Mount Athos (2.30) can book his ticket to the Melbourne Cup by successfully stepping up into pattern-race company in Newbury's Geoffrey Freer Stakes.
Luca Cumani reckons that this horse needs to produce a good performance here in order to be sure of securing a place in the line-up for Australia's most famous race, but the trainer has every reason to feel positive after the five-year-old's latest performance when he thrashed a strong field in a York handicap.
Having always had the potential to make a smart stayer, a move to Cumani's stable has brought about considerable improvement this season and Mount Athos – who has a particularly good record when fresh – can take this before heading into quarantine for his next adventure.
Newbury 2.00 Barry Hills used to send out plenty of winners in this race and his son, Charlie, will be keen to maintain that record. Just The Judge has course experience and scored nicely on her debut. Any rain won't worry her either.
Newmarket 2.15 Despite proving alarmingly weak in the betting, Fleeting Smile built upon the promise of her debut second to the smart Newfangled when taking an Ascot maiden without fuss. She has a realistic mark for her move into handicaps and also the clear potential that there should be more to come.
Newmarket 2.45 A good prize for ordinary sprint handicappers and I suspect Henry Candy has kept Dream Catcher back for this race since his most recent Pontefract success.
Newbury 3.05 Making too many excuses can be an expensive business for punters, but Strong Suit hasn't had a chance to show his true colours so far this season and is worth another chance in this line-up. He travelled with all of his old prowess before running out of steam on his reappearance behind Frankel at Royal Ascot.
Newmarket 3.20 Galician is likely to be over-bet after going into everybody's notebook last weekend, so the value call might be to take her on with the less-exposed Priceless Jewel who beat Galician earlier in the season before disappointing twice.
Ripon 3.30 High numbers held sway in this race 12 months ago, but there has never been much consistency in the draw advantage at Ripon. A speculative chance is taken on Bertiewhittle, for whom Harry Bentley makes the long journey north after a fine third over seven furlongs last time out.
Newbury 3.40 The drop back to seven furlongs may bring out the best in Jacob Cats, who travelled strongly into contention before his effort just petered out over a mile at Goodwood last time out.
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