The weather is once again going to be a significant factor this Saturday and following the downpours on Friday night the ground is testing at Newbury once again which will play in the favour of MORANDO in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes at 2.25.

Andrew Balding’s charge does have a penalty to give away, but is at his very best when the mud is flying and this intermediate trip is his perfect distance and I expect him to repay the midweek ante-post support once the weather forecast is known.

His victory over Kew Gardens in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester sets the standard here and he has not been disgraced in both group one and group two company since then. With the classic generation simply not up to scratch his biggest rival could be the Royal runner Sextant who is three from four this season. He has quite a bit to find at the weights with the selection, but remains open to more improvement.

The other charge I wanted to be onside with on the card with the prevailing ground conditions has to be BREATH OF AIR in the valuable seven furlong handicap due off at 3.00.

Whereas some of his rivals will be inconvenienced by the slower ground, this son of Bated Breath is sure to relish it and on only his eighth career start, and his fourth over this distance, I shall be disappointed if he doesn’t post a new career best with the likes of top-weight Love Dreams (the pace in the race) and George William probably his biggest dangers. 

The feature Hungerford Stakes at 3.35 looks sure to see dual Lennox Stakes hero Sir Dancelot go off as market leader. However, I can readily see FLAMING SPEAR reversing that form here.

Dean Ivory’s charge went through that Goodwood contest as much the best horse in the race and looked set to at least play a part in the finish until lack of condition told in the last 200 yards or so.

That run should have brought him on significantly and I see Hey Gaman [second at Goodwood] as a bigger danger to the selection than the David Elsworth charge.

The big betting event of the day is the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon (3.15) and the runner-up in this event in 2016 I expect a massive run from the now veteran INTISAAB (nap) now that his mark has finally fallen below three figures.

The old boy has shown that the fire still burns bright this season and it is worth remembering that last year he won a valuable six-and-a-half furlong handicap off a mark of 103 so his chance is clear to see at a double figure price.

Of course in such a competitive event there are lots of dangers and of his 19 rivals I suspect there will be plenty of support for the likes of last year’s runner-up Dakota Gold and course and distance winner Lahore.

Third in the race last year, GROWL (nb) has dropped dramatically in the weights this year and should go close in the consolation event at 2.05. The seven-year-old is obviously not the horse he was 12 months ago, but this represents his easiest task to date and I shall be surprised if he is not involved in the finish.

Elsewhere on the card, have a second look at LOLA’S THEME in the fillies’ handicap at 3.50, while the well-handicapped DONNCHA won’t mind any further easing in the ground in the 4.25.

ARBALET takes a significant drop in class for Newmarket handler Hugo Palmer when he is set to carry top-weight in the Doncaster 2.50. The return to quicker ground is also a plus for the four-year-old and he is taken to give the weight away all round here.

Back on a more conventional track, Goodwood disappointment SAAHEQ looks set for a big run in the 3.25, while DETACHMENT could be another one to defy top-weight in the closing handicap at 4.35 for the in form yard of Roger Fell.

There are some nice prizes up for grabs at Newmarket and LIHOU could offer us more than a bit of value in the three-year-old, six furlong handicap at 3.25.

The selection finally opened his account at Chester last time out seeing off the consistent Cosmic Law and may make the most of the weight he is due to receive from the likes of the in form Aplomb and Dazzling Dan.