13:35 Diamond Jubilee Handicap
Several of these tackle handicap company for the first time and Oxford Charley was second in the Dee Stakes at Chester, albeit beaten 11 lengths, though behind Mister Music in the Fielden Stakes at Newmarket earlier. Entifaadha won the Acomb Stakes at York as a two-year-old but has been tailed off twice since finishing second in Dubai in February and more interesting are Open Water, who ran well behind race-fit rivals at Newmarket, and Grandeur, successful at Goodwood last week. HAJRAS only found the highly-progressive Expense Claim too strong at Newbury having won his first two starts and may still be on a decent mark. He can resume winning ways with Wrotham Heath, Position and The Giving Tree the most interesting of the remainder.
14:05 Investec Woodcote Stakes
Mark Johnston usually has one laid out for this and has trained the winner three times in the last 10 years, including Fulbright 12 months ago. Heavy Metal is improving with racing and on a hat-trick after victories at Brighton and Newmarket. Fellow northern raider Euxton Hall created a favourable impression when beating Monday's easy Windsor winner Annunciation at Haydock on debut while Lastchancelucas has already won at Pontefract and York. LIBER just needed the experience when beaten at Redcar but made no mistake at Carlisle next time, despite running green again. Very speedily-bred, the fact that he's turned out quickly again in this higher grade suggest connections think he's improving rapidly and he gets the nod. Kevin Ryan's filly Surely Speightful may be best of the rest.
14:40 Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup
Joseph O'Brien hardly covered himself with glory when getting ST NICHOLAS ABBEY beaten by pacemaker Windsor Palace in his comeback race at the Curragh but the five-year-old probably needed the run and the jockey was trying to look after him on the very soft ground. With Robin Hood to do the donkey work for him here, the Ballydoyle star can recoup losses and land this Group 1 contest for the second year running. Red Cadeaux finally gained reward for a string of placed efforts in top-class company when winning the Yorkshire Cup last month but he needs more here and a bigger danger to the selection is likely to be last year's St Leger winner Masked Marvel, who obviously needed his reappearance at Newmarket when well behind runner-up Quest For Peace. Beaten Up was very progressive as a three-year-old and was too keen when behind the selection in Dubai Sheema Classic. He can get closer here, though may not be able to turn the tables.
15:15 Investec Specialist Bank 'Dash'
Confessional is in cracking form, winning at Chester before finishing fifth in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock last week. He has an indifferent draw, however, and Tim Easterby also runs Captain Dunne who beat him into second place 12 months ago on less favourable terms. Sohraab was fourth last year and JAMESWAY seventh after meeting trouble in running. The latter comes out best at the weights today and gets a tentative vote, though Liam Jones will have to hope the gaps appear at the right time from stall 18. Progressive three-year-old Bear Behind is drawn against the stands rail and is another to consider while Catfish was only beaten half-a-length at York last week and should strip fitter here. Judge 'n Jury beat stablemate Secret Witness at York last month and is usually thereabouts in these big-field sprints, though he has a 4lb penalty to carry today.
16:00 Investec Derby
According to most experts, Camelot is already first past the post in the second colts' classic having extended his unbeaten record in the Qipco 2000 Guineas. He will deserve to be afforded superstar status if landing the second leg of the Triple Crown but, though he won over a mile as a two-year-old, there is just a doubt over whether 1m4f will truly be his best trip and he's no longer a betting proposition for ordinary punters. Stamina doubts, too, surround Dante winner Bonfire, who may also have a mind of his own, while Camelot's stablemate Astrology beat little of note in the Dee Stakes. Main Sequence won a shade cosily at Lingfield but was only a handicapper last year while Mickdaam is a lot more exposed than usual Derby winners, though should easily uphold Chester Vase running with Minimise Risk. At the likely odds, we're prepared to take a chance on THOUGHT WORTHY who is certainly bred for the job being a full brother to St Leger hero Lucarno. He had the staying-on Rugged Cross behind when making a successful reappearance in a Listed contest at Newmarket and has any amount of scope over this extra quarter-mile. John Gosden's colt will be doing his best work at the finish and looks the value.
16:50 Investec Zebra Handicap
Four-year-olds have a good record in this and COMMUNICATOR got some vital course experience under his belt when third to the smart Aiken in the Great Metropolitan in April. The form of that race is working out well and Michael Bell's charge, who won a valuable handicap at York around this time last year, looks the one to be on here under Jamie Spencer. Rock A Doodle Doo will be better for his reappearance at Newmarket but may still be a couple of pounds too high in the weights and Spanish Duke is better over 1m2f and probably best watched with his stable still to hit form. French import King's Warrior has finished second at Doncaster and Chester this year, finishing ahead of Oceanway on the Roodeye, but is another with his stamina to prove and Quiz Mistress needs to step up on her Windsor success to follow up here off a 7lb higher mark.
17:25 Investec Out Of The Ordinary Handicap
Swiss Cross bids to follow up last year's success off a 2lb higher mark but close-up third Fireback is 4lb better off and could turn the tables if fully wound-up for his reappearance. Dandy Nicholls trained runner-up Tajneed 12 months ago and dominated this handicap in the early Noughties - he can land the spoils again with SWILLY FERRY. The five-year-old is now 14lb lower than his last winning mark and prefers an undulating track. He had Fireback, who is 5lb worse off, behind when third in a competitive sprint at Goodwood last summer. Baby Strange deserves to get his head back in front but has been raised 3lb since finishing second to Secret Witness at York, while Haydock third Noverre To Go may find this company too hot nowadays. Jeremy Gask's pair Sutton Verny and Titus Gent are interesting, however.
