PALACE Pier bids to cement his position as the best older miler in Europe when he contests the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury at 3.35 — and there is little doubt that he is the most likely winner.

But if we get any more significant rain at the Berkshire track, he wouldn’t be an odds-on shot in my book. It means that the best betting path to take is an each-way play against him with the progressive TOP RANK.

The massive grey made great strides last season and continued on an upward curve with a smooth success in the Listed Doncaster Mile at the Lincoln meeting.