14:20 Salisbury

Almanzor colt CIRCLE OF FIRE looks a nice horse in the making for Sir Michael Stoute. He looked clueless on debut at Leicester just running about behind the leaders but I thought he was eye-catching in the way he ran on in the closing stages for third passing two horses late in the day. He is going to be a lot more streetwise now and it’s no surprise to see him proving popular in the betting. He goes up a furlong in trip too which is obviously going to be a big bonus given the way he finished on debut. Dubawi colt Tabaretta is feared as he was hampered when starting to weaken so is better than the bare result there. He will likely improve but I still think he might need more time and experience in comparison to the selection. Caravaggio colt Roman Spring also showed a fair bit on debut and is unlikely to be far away.

16:45 Haydock

I still think ELENA’S GIFT has more to offer and with just the 4 rivals to beat here she might always be bossing them off the front. She looked progressive winning at Beverley and then following up at Windsor before going down less than 3 lengths last time. She was a bit flat I thought there and back down to a mile and a quarter she looks a good bet to fend these off. I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t have more to offer off her current mark of just 80. Persist is favourite for Haggas but she has finished second the last twice and you’d have to question her attitude to want to win I think. I wouldn’t want to take a short price. Terra Mitica also looms as a danger as she beat Rousay at Salisbury and that is form that has obviously been well advertised since and the race then clearly came too soon when last at Nottingham last time.