Beverley Saturday

1:30 Joe Rowntree Memorial Handicap 7f 96yds

Majestic needs to step up a little on the figures, but he’s been backward and retains plenty of scope for improvement after just a handful of flat runs. His draw and run style are positives here, and he produced a career best when winning easily at Pontefract last time, having previously shaped with plenty of promise in some warm maidens.

It’s easy enough to knock the form of that Pontefract contest as most of his rivals failed to fire, but he had the race in the bag a couple of furlongs from home, and the slight drop in trip is a positive, if anything. Majestic is clearly suited by a turning track, and has the pace to take a good position towards the inner.

2:05 William Hill Silver Cup Handicap 1m 1f 207yds

Wait To Excel looks vulnerable here, with the handicapper putting him up 5lb for winning a Ripon handicap which has not worked out, and I’ll be surprised if he holds on to favouritism. There is more solidity to the form of Kitsune Power, who didn’t get the best of runs when second to the classy Ajero at Glorious Goodwood on his latest start.

He’d won two handicaps on good ground earlier in the season, and gives the impression that he will prove better at this trip than a mile.

Kitsune Power’s sole disappointment this term came when beaten six lengths in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, but for a horse in need of a stiffer test, that was hardly a poor effort, and his profile remains a progressive one, with the Goodwood run a career best on the numbers. He was strong at the finish upped to a mile and a furlong there, and the extra yardage should be much in his favour.

2:40 William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed) 5f

There are question marks over most of these, and while last year’s winner Tis Marvellous is again the one to beat on ratings, he’s not fired this year, and has rarely run to his best after a break. Ainsdale is also coming off a short lay-off, but Julie Camacho’s gelding travelled well on his yard debut in the Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle, and is the type to thrive for his new stable.

Ainsdale showed some smart form for Karl Burke last term without winning, notably when second in Haydock’s Temple Stakes, and when fourth to Vadream in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot. That came over six furlongs, but Ainsdale gave the impression that he was stretched by the trip, moving alongside with a furlong to run before his run flattened out.

He again travelled very well over six furlongs in the Chipchase, but was drawn very low, doing well to beat those who raced on the far side, but behind the placed horses who raced closer to the stands rail and were helped by doing so.

He again weakened late at Newcastle, and while it’s easy to assume it was a lack of fitness on his return, my belief is that he will prove best at five furlongs with some ease in the ground.

It won’t be soft at Beverley, but there should be enough ease to allow Ainsdale to get his toe in, and he looks overpriced given his helpful low draw.

Goodwood Saturday

1:50 William Hill Prestige Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) 7f

Soft ground asks a news question for all of these fillies, but I’m confident that Fairy Cross will be ideally suited by conditions given her dam Devonshire was best on testing ground, winning the Group 2 Lanwades Stud Stakes in the Godolphin colours for Willie McCreery.

Fairy Cross has avoided ground quicker than good to date, and runs as if she will appreciate plenty of ease, so an improved showing looks likely, and given her second in the Star Stakes at Sandown is the best form on offer, it’s very hard to oppose her in the circumstances.

2:25 William Hill Handicap 7f

Rhoscolyn will appreciate the recent rain, and while he is effective on fast turf, his record on softer than good for his current yard shows he’s especially at home in such conditions, and his form figures in handicaps at around seven furlongs with soft or heavy in the description reads 111 with his current connections.

The selection has been unplaced since an excellent second to Inver Park at Royal Ascot, but has looked increasingly short of tactical pace on quick ground since that run, suggesting that he will need soft ground to slow his rivals down in order to regain winning ways.

This looks an ideal set-up in that regard, and Rhoscolyn was a course and distance winner last season in similar conditions when beating Oo De Lally. After claims and overweight are factored in, Rhoscolyn received 2lb from Oo De Lally then, and will do so again, while he ran even better when runner-up to Maydanny in the Golden Mile here last August, and his clear liking for the course is very much in his favour.

3:00 William Hill March Stakes (In Memory Of John Dunlop) (Group 3) 1m 6f

A poor turnout for this Group 3, and Hoo Ya Mal ought to win without needing to run to the form he showed when placed in the Derby and the Gordon Stakes.

3:35 William Hill Celebration Mile Stakes (Group 2) 1m

Mutasaabeq is the form pick and ran as well as he ever has when a close second to Chindit in the Summer Mile at Ascot. Given he won well on soft ground at Thirsk in the spring (beating Rhoscolyn into third), he shouldn’t be troubled by the rain, and is hard to oppose, especially with main danger Escobar better suited by a big-field scenario.

Newmarket Saturday

3:15 Jenningsbet Hopeful Stakes (Listed) 6f

It’s tempting to stick with Summerghand after he broke an unfortunate losing run last weekend, but Great Ambassador was just as unlucky in the Stewards’ Cup, and is 7lb better off in this listed race. Ed Walker’s gelding has been placed from bad draws in that race for the past two years, and deserves a change of fortune.

3:50 Bet With Jenningsbet Handicap 1m 6f

I’ve been waiting for Liverpool Knight to reappear for a while after he caught the eye in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock. A winner on softish ground at Windsor in the spring, he looks to have a big handicap in him granted the right conditions, and the Haydock contest simply wasn’t run to suit after he was steadied at the start.

Recommended

Kitsune Power 2:05 Beverley – 1pt win @ 3/1 (General)

Ainsdale 2:40 Beverley – 1pt e/w @ 11/1 (General)

Fairy Cross 1:50 Goodwood – 2pts win @ 5/2 (General)

Rhoscolyn 2:25 Goodwood – 2pts win @ 13/2 (Hills, BetVictor)

Great Ambassador 3:15 Newmarket - 1pt win @ 7/2 (Bet365, Boyles)

Liverpool Knight 3:50 Newmarket – 2pts win @ 9/1 (Bet365)