Yesterday's rain has had a dramatic effect on the ground at all of today's venues, and with horses drawn high normally at an advantage at Ripon when the ground rides slow everything looks in place for Tajneed (3.30) to run a big race in the William Hill Great St Wilfrid Handicap.
The selection's trainer, David "Dandy" Nicholls, has a record second to none in sprint races and it is probably significant that the selection is his only runner in a contest in which he has a terrific record.
Tajneed, who is unbeaten in three previous runs over this course and distance, won this valuable prize two years ago and is set to race off a rating just 2lb higher. His best runs have come on ground on the slow side and there is plenty of pace among the runners drawn near to him in stall 20 of 20.
2.00 Newbury Four unbeaten horses in a field of five and punters are only guessing here. No surprise if the exciting Native Khan won but Zaidan is the one with the best proven form.
2.15 Newmarket William Haggas does well with his handicappers and Kalk Bay, proven on the underfoot conditions, is a well-bred individual likely to win more races of this kind.
2.30 Newbury Sans Frontieres is certainly progressing fast and the form of his Newmarket July meeting victory has been given a boost. He has never raced on soft ground but the colt's breeding gives some cause for optimism that he will act on it.
2.45 Newmarket A novelty race restricted to grey horses that looked booked for speedy front-runner Sutton Veny until the heavy rain arrived and the token suggestion is soft-ground lover Witchry.
3.05 Newbury Last year's winner, Balthazar's Gift, has at least got winning form on good to soft and could be the answer in a tricky heat in which many have shown their best on faster ground.
3.20 Newmarket This is competitive on paper but the lightly raced Bated Breath is expected to prove a fair bit better than his current rating and looks a good bet to defy top weight. Trainer Roger Charlton has always said his unbeaten colt would appreciate cut in the ground.
3.40 Newbury The improving Sarasota Sunshine gets the nod but was pulled out of a race at Newmarket last night and if she gets taken out again the way may be clear for Manassas, who is back to form and will not mind any more rain.
Horse sense
Henry Cecil could be in for an excellent week at York, with Midday in Thursday's Yorkshire Oaks and Twice Over in the Juddmonte International on Tuesday. Both horses worked well this week and seem in peak condition. Cecil also has a highly promising unraced type in Midsummer Sun, who has some fancy entries later in the year.
Barry Hills has high hopes about Damien in the sprint handicap which opens festivities on Tuesday. Madany will also be fancied in the nursery later that afternoon, while David Simcock's Dream Ahead has been working well ahead of his tilt at the Acomb Stakes.
El Muqbil has been lined up for Friday's Convivial Stakes since running well in the maiden won by Native Khan last month. His trainer, Brian Meehan, should win today's opener at Newmarket with Pearl Arch (1.45), who ran better than expected on his debut and has progressed nicely.
There is a big tip for Sans Frontieres (2.30) in the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury, while Ouqba (3.05) has been working well in the blinkers that will be tried for the first time in public in the Hungerford.
At the five-day stage, Sharnberry (6.30) held entries for three different races today, with a different jockey booked for each. Ed Dunlop has settled for Kieren Fallon in the six-furlong maiden at Lingfield tonight, and this once-raced filly will be well supported to get off the mark.
Fallon partnered Seta (4.00) in a spin on the Watered Gallop this week. She went well, and should be hard to catch in the Listed race at Bath tomorrow.
