I often try to take on debut winners, who lack experience when stepping up in grade, but there was something different about AMERICA QUEEN’S 12-length demolition job at Haydock. The 180,000euro breeze-up purchase was clearly held in high regard, prior to that striking debut win, being sent off the 11-8 favourite.

She travelled well and looked to be set for a workmanlike success at the two-furlong marker. However, she not only put the race to bed in a matter of strides – she also powered clear without being asked for any serious effort. I’m taking her to show us something special on the Knavesmire this afternoon.

These big sales races are often quite hard to decipher on paper, mainly due to the fact most are unexposed types. I firmly believe RAAKEB can go close, if his official mark of 97 is accurate. There is a strong case to believe so, following a fine sixth in the Newbury Super Sprint (behind winner Anthelia but is weighted to reverse form).

It is Raakeb’s excellent seventh in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, which captivates me here. He was a length behind likely favourite, Tadej, but now has a 7lb pull in the weights (Tadej carries a 7lb penalty for a winning in Group company last time).

I was absolutely seething with Tom Marquand, when he let the winner come up his inside at Ascot, aboard Bullet Point last time. It was even worse when cheering him home at the track. A quick visit to the nearest Peroni stand was definitely required!

I’m loathed to oppose him here – racing from the same handicap mark. He ought to go close but APIARIST may have gone slightly under the radar for this competitive handicap, from an each-way perspective, at a decent price. He was never able to land a blow at Galway last time, after meeting trouble from the back of the pack. I feel a drop of a pound is pretty lenient and he has some interesting back form at York.

He scored as a juvenile at this track, prior to placing over this distance. He also has the assistance of a jockey who certainly knows how to ride at this course, coupled with a handy draw.

Dual G1 Oaks winner, MINNIE HAUK, is extremely hard to oppose, in this disappointing small-field feature contest. Unless there is a severely tactical event played by Garden Of Eden or Qilin Queen (who could try to make all), then the 117-rated Aidan O’Brien star is likely to prove far too classy for her opposition.

The fact she has a 9lb weight advantage over her main rival, Estrange (a four-year-old), gives her a pretty straightforward task.

This isn’t a race that would be high up on my radar for finding a likely winner! This is a Listed event for fillies and mares, where the three-year-olds have a massive 9lb in hand from their older rivals.

AEOLIAN may be able to keep up her improvement, despite her inexperience after just two runs to date. She impressed in making all at Newmarket, and interestingly trainer William Haggas had a well-backed winner of this in 2023, with a similarly unexposed individual. 

In what looks like another hard puzzle to solve – I like the look of PEEL PARK to at least finish in the placings. The Mehmas colt has improved with each start, culminating in a length-and-a-quarter victory in maiden company at Yarmouth. He won that with something to spare, looking like he'd appreciate this extra journey.

The second ran okay in a hot Goodwood maiden, next-time-out. An opening mark of 83 may prove lenient if you take into consideration his proximity to a Godolphin horse at Newbury on penultimate run – he was less than five lengths behind Time To Turn – who is now rated 108.

I have been waiting for ORMOLULU to return to the track, since a couple of extremely frustrating runs at York.  The five-year-old is a hold-up mare, who does need to be delivered late. She had nowhere to go on both recent outings and clearly has more ability than she has been able to show.

She’s been kept on the same handicap mark – and although she will need luck in-running – I cannot leave her run without some each-way money down on her! She also has a jockey upgrade this time. Pray for a clear run when it’s needed!