13:50 Newmarket

Leg 1 Selections: Zanbaq, Crenelle

The excellent form of Roger Varian cannot be disputed and therefore ZANBAQ has to be considered in the opener. This filly ran a blinder to finish second in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot, coming from well off the pace to nearly take the spoils. She encountered traffic problems when only fifth in a Group Three last time, so she’s worth another chance here. 

I also really like CRENELLE, who wasn’t far behind the former when third in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot and while she’s seven-pounds worse off with that rival here, she has the potential to rank higher. Moreover, the combination of the first-time cheek-pieces and course-and-distance winning form bolsters her claims. 

14:25 Newmarket

Leg 2 Selections: Sea Silk Road 

SEA SILK ROAD could only muster fourth in France last time but she wasn’t suited to the slow pace and is better judged on her narrow second to Magical Lagoon at Royal Ascot in the Ribblesdale. That’s the best piece of form on offer in this race as the winner subsequently won the Irish Oaks. 

The former has beaten Eternal Pearl off level terms but gets three-pounds from that rival in this race, so there isn’t any obvious reason why the form should be reversed. She’s also seven-pounds better with Queen Of The Skies, whom she thrashed at Nottingham back in May, so there’s plenty in her favour here and I expect her to win this race. 

15:00 Newmarket

Leg 3 Selections: Olivia Maralda, Rich

OLIVIA MARALDA is a smart filly, who’s only been out of the top two once in her career so far, which came when an excellent seventh of 21 in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot from a bad draw in stall one. She bolted up at Newbury on her penultimate start and produced a career-best when second to Meditate in a Group Two last time. She has some of the best form amongst this field and connections have booked Rossa Ryan to ride, so with more to come, this Irish raider can emerge as the winner. 

RICH hasn’t been seen since making a sparkling winning debut at Newbury and while she will need a lot more here, connections clearly feel she’s up to this grade. She showed a lot of gears to easily beat a large field on her debut, including Woolhampton (placed in valuable sprints since) and, while she needs more to win this, she has lots of potential and is worth an investment at double-figure odds here. 

15:35 Newmarket

Leg 4 Selections: Mutasaabeq

This race has often been won by horses who have already established themselves as genuine Group 1 winners but given none of these have achieved that status, this is an open-looking renewal and the one I like is the quirky but equally talented MUTASAABEQ. He was disappointing when sent off a warm favourite for the Celebration Mile but that’s the second time he’s been below-par in that race, so the course clearly doesn’t play to his strengths. 

However, his previous second to Chindit is a solid piece of form and he acts well at this venue. He should be suited to the nature of this contest and first-time headgear will be applied, so with track, trip and conditions all deemed suitable, Jim Crowley can get him back in the winners circle. Last year's second, Pogo, is feared most, who’s been in top form again this term and is well-suited to this course, though he could be taken on for the lead which won’t suit. 

16:10 Newmarket

Leg 5 Selections: Kolsai

KOLSAI was marginally denied on debut at Leicester and would have won they race without being slowly away from the stalls. However, that experience will have done him the world of good and the winner from that race already has some useful form in the book, so the form has substance. 

David Egan and Roger Varian have been a potent force this year and they have a great chance with this son of Oasis Dream, who could be a pattern-class performer next season. With improvement on the cards, he can put his vital experience to good use and beat Charlie Appleby’s debutant Regal Honour. 

16:45 Newmarket

Leg 6 Selections: Without A Fight, Siskany 

WITHOUT A FIGHT loves a fight and has shown a lot of grit and determination to win his last two races, including a Group Three when last spotted. Both of those two wins were in small-fields and he’s been rock solid all year whilst improving at the same time. 

He is the form horse in this race, so if Andrea Atzeni can slot him into a decent early position, the five-year-old could be up to completing the hat-trick by giving weight and a beating to these. SISKANY was below form last time but is interestingly turned out quickly here and could go well.