Thursday 14:35 May Hill Stakes

The unbeaten DANCE IN THE GRASS (best priced at 11/8) looks the one to beat for the Charlie & Mark Johnston stable with William Buick taking over from Silvestre De Sousa. The daughter of Cracksman outran odds of 20/1 to make a winning debut at Sandown before defeating Fairy Cross in a listed race on her next start. 

The pair pulled six lengths clear of 3rd that day and Fairy Cross boosted that form by winning the Group 3 Prestige Stakes on her next start. William Buick is riding full of confidence with a remarkable strike rate of 43% in the last couple of weeks and I expect Dance In The Grass to remain unbeaten. 

Thursday 15:10 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes

This race was weakened when connections supplemented Haskoy for the St Leger instead and that means the Roger Varian trained ESHAADA (best priced at 6/4) should prove hard to beat. The four-year-old is rated 113 which puts her 7lbs clear of her nearest rival Believe In Love on figures and she won’t be inconvenienced by any rain that may fall between now and the race. 

She won the Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot last season and despite running below form on her two starts so far this season, she should be able to bounce back in this race. 

She was involved in the scuffle against the rail with Free Wind last time in the Lancashire Oaks before finishing 3rd and she has always looked that this trip of 1m6f should be within reach. This doesn’t look the strongest Group 2 and if Eshaada runs up to her rating of 113 then she should prove extremely hard to beat.

Saturday 15:30 St Leger Stakes

The final classic of the season looks at the mercy of NEW LONDON (best priced at 5/6) who bids to give Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and William Buick back to back victories in the race following the victory of Hurricane Lane last season. 

The colt is 4/5 in his career with his only defeat coming when not handling the track at Chester earlier this season. He has since won impressively at Newmarket in a handicap before winning the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood last time in a race that is working out well. 

The 2nd Deauville Legend won the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes by 2 ¾ lengths on his next start and 3rd Hoo Ya Mal won the Group 3 March Stakes by 2 ½ lengths on his next start. This step up to 1m6f shouldn’t inconvenience New London and I expect him to justify favouritism.