12:50 Newmarket

It was a case of stop the contest rather than STOP THE CAVALRY (best price 11/2) when Ralph Beckett’s newcomer made a winning start at Haydock last month and with connections having no hesitation in pitching her straight into pattern company off the back of just one run, their confidence she will more than hold her own in a higher grade looks set to be justified.

Well touted prior to her first serve at the Merseyside venue, the daughter of Lope De Vega always travelled like she was about to justify her reputation and once asked to go about her work in the closing stages, she readily came clear in the style of an above-average juvenile.

To put the icing on the cake, her overall speed figure and backend sectionals came out very favourably and with the knowledge she can operate under testing conditions at a decent level already, confidence is high she will be one of the main players here this afternoon.

Stop The Cavalry - 1pt e/w

14:00 Newmarket

FIRST OFFICER (best price 10/1) took an age to finally find his form this season, in keeping with many from his yard, but now he seems to be a much better place based on his C&D latest exploits, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s gelding can continue the good work under even more suitable conditions.

Gelded in the summer, his first spin post-operation didn’t bring about too much promise, but he looked a totally different model in terms of performance levels and demeanour here 36 days ago.  Having appeared to be going nowhere fast approaching the furlong pole, the four-year-old proceeded to find the necessary turn of foot to run down the front-running The City’s Phantom in the dying strides and considering the ground would have been plenty quick enough for him, his effort deserves extra merit.

Seen to really good effect under testing conditions towards the backend of last season, including when fourth in the highly competitive November Handicap at Doncaster, a repeat of something close to that level of form will surely see him go close here today off a 14lb lower mark.

First Officer - 0.5pts e/w

18:00 Dundalk

HODDS GIRL (best price 16/1) was never placed to challenge in a hot fillies’ handicap here last time out but now much better off in terms of the draw, Ado McGuinness’ grey has a better chance of collecting than her form figures suggest.

Posted out in stall 12 of 12 here two weeks ago, her pilot Adam Caffery had no option but to take his medicine and drop her right out the back and in what turned out to be a very strongly run race in which the pace was unrelenting, the pair failed in their bid to make up the ground forfeited in the home straight.

That said, the overall time figure suggested she faced an impossible task and with the combination of more favourable draw (stall 2) and optimum trip seen as obvious positives, the six-year-old can add to her very useful stats at her favourite venue.

Hodds Girl - 0.5pts e/w

20:30 Dundalk

LUKE SHORT (best price 12/1), as his profile suggested, got well and truly bogged down in the heavy ground at Naas last time out, but prior to that poor effort he was quite impressive over today’s C&D and now returning to the scene of that improved effort, Noel Meade’s gelding is fancied to give a much better account.

Promising on his first start at tonight’s track behind Longclaw here two months ago, the four-year-old was reacquainted with the cheekpieces on his return to the Co Lough venue and despite being drawn badly in stall 17 and having plenty to do at halfway, he came home strongest of all to win going away by three lengths.

Clocking a good time figure for the grade, it was easy to see why connections were tempted to roll the dice back on turf next time but as it turned out, he may have well sent his photo and better judged on this sort of surface, the son of Sayif has brighter prospects than his morning odds imply.

Luke Short - 1pt e/w