Against a background of political in-fighting, Musselburgh stages a valuable televised card on Saturday when AYUTTHAYA could be the one to back in the totesport.com Royal Mile Handicap.
Kevin Ryan's colt ran well on all three of his starts as a two-year-old, going under by just over a length to Lisheen Castle (now rated 95) at Hamilton on his debut, then chasing home the leading Classic contender Elarqam at York before making all for a comfortable victory at Chester in September (Book Of Dreams fourth and held).
With a low draw, jockey Tom Eaves is bound to have Ayutthaya handy or on the pace once again and time may prove that a mark of 86 seriously under-estimates him.
The former Richard Hannon inmate Shuhood could be the danger after two decent efforts for new handler Ian Williams, latterly when finishing third to Book Of Dreams at Chelmsford on which form he is quite closely weighted with the selection.
Earlier, MASHAM STAR is fancied to defy joint top weight in the toteplacepot Handicap returning to turf from the all-weather.
On his latest start, Mark Johnston's tough gelding, who ran no less than 20 times during 2017, may have run a career-best when third behind Second Thought in a Listed race at Wolverhampton on his first outing for five months.
That effort has earned Masham Star an all-weather handicap rating of 103 yet he runs off just 95 here on turf despite running decent races in competitive handicaps at Newmarket, Ascot and Goodwood last summer, on the latter occasion finishing sixth of 17 behind Master The World in the Betfred Mile.
A slightly disappointing effort over this course and distance last October can easily be excused on account of his hard season and, judging by that Wolverhampton reappearance, he is a much fresher horse now.
Last year's winner Twin Appeal must have claims again off a 4lb lower mark though he proved difficult to win with subsequently before hitting the target at Wolverhampton in December.
David Barron's gelding hasn't been beaten too far in all-weather contests at Newcastle and Wolverhampton this year.
Meanwhile, Dubai World Cup night at Meydan features its usual array of international talent and few horses have stronger credentials than CLOTH OF STARS in the Dubai Sheema Classic.
Andre Fabre's high-class colt split Enable and Ulysses in what looked a very strong renewal of the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly last October (with the re-opposing Idaho back in eighth) and had a perfect warm-up for this target when second to his World Cup-bound stable-companion Talismanic over an inadequate nine furlongs at Chantilly in March.
Cloth Of Stars looks the class act amongst the European challengers and the biggest threat may come from one of Japan's three representatives Mozu Katchan, Rey De Oro and Satono Crown even though all were beaten on their latest starts.
Related links
Fast Results
Scores
Racecards 
