Top commentator Simon Holt provides four best bets for Saturday's action around the country including Alpha Delphini at Haydock.
On a competitive but fairly low key Saturday, winners won't be easy to find but YAFTA is fancied to relish a step up to seven furlongs in the Animal Health Trust Handicap on Newmarket's July Course.
The Richard Hannon-trained grey has won three of his last four starts and still looked progressive when comfortably wearing down the front-running Midsummer Knight over six furlongs of the Rowley Mile course last month for which he has gone up another 7lb.
Strong at the finish that day, this well-related son of Dark Angel is on the verge of listed class and can concede the weight to likely favourite Georgian Manor who faces a much tougher task after easily winning a minor event at Beverley while Cavatina has gone up a punitive 9lb for winning a fillies handicap at Leicester.
Moving north, ALPHA DELPHINI should go well in the listed Betway Achilles Stakes returning to the course and distance at which he may have run a career-best early last season when third to Priceless in the Temple Stakes (Final Venture fourth) on fast ground.
Brian Smart's gelding later scored twice with more cut underfoot so seems versatile, and comes here in good heart after keeping on well to take third behind the improving Mabs Cross, half a length behind the re-opposing Judicial, in the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.
Although racing along with the winner on the stands side that day, the centre-field group from which Judicial launched his challenge definitely looked to be in front at half-way and I suspect that the tables can be turned.
Muthmir would be hard to beat at his best but was three lengths behind fourth-placed Mabs Cross here last time in this year's Temple Stakes (won by Battaash) and doesn't look quite the force of old.
Earlier, a chance is taken with CRIMSON ROSETTE improving for a step up in distance in the Group Three Betway Pinnacle Stakes.
Like Yafta, the winner of three of her last four starts, this daughter of Teofilo scored readily over a mile-and-a-quarter at Doncaster last month (runner-up White Chocolate a winner since) and now tries an extra two furlongs which her pedigree suggests will suit her well.
Clearly this is a big step up in class for this 85-rated filly but with market leader God Given not certain to be at her best on the quick ground (all three of her wins so far have come on the soft), the race has an open look to it.
Cribbs Causeway drops back in trip after finishing third to Precious Ramotswe at a similar level over a mile-and-three-quarters at York last time (Mam'selle fifth) while Euro Nightmare moves up from a mile-and-quarter after her listed success at Ayr (Titi Makfi third), but none of that form appears outstanding.
Finally, heading further north, SOIE D'LEAU is fancied to follow-up his reappearance Thirsk defeat of Blue De Vega in the Edinburgh Gin's Scottish Sprint Cup at Musselburgh.
The six-year-old, who can make the running or sit handy, was having his first run for the shrewd John Quinn that day and it looks like a change of scene may have been beneficial.
With Blue De Vega running a blinder in the Dash at Epsom last weekend and declared for the Achilles at Haydock, that Thirsk form could be solid enough and the gelding's new trainer may continue to eke out a bit more improvement.
Quinn is also represented by the speedy El Astronaute who was just touched off by Mr Lupton at York two weeks ago when Major Jumbo was a close fourth and Fendale eighth but, with renowned trail-blazer Caspian Prince also in the line-up and drawn close by towards the stands side, there is a chance that they may take each other on whereas the selection should be able to stay out of it towards the centre.
Posted at 1100 BST on 08/06/18.
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