1:50 Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f

Ignore Flying Honours’ defeat in a really messy race here last time and he has outstanding claims.

He won a listed race at Salisbury by a wide margin prior to that, and runner-up Stormbuster went on to win in similar style in the Haynes, Hanson & Clark at Newbury.

That form sets an extremely high bar, and while it’s an obvious concern that he dipped in form when a hot favourite for the Royal Lodge Stakes here last month, it’s hard to imagine a less satisfactory pattern contest than that, with only one of the quartet enjoying a clear run in a race which turned into a two-furlong sprint.

2:25 Emirates Autumn Stakes (Group 3) 1m

Epictetus was impressive when winning on debut here in the summer, where he had Flying Honours behind. That form looked particularly good on paper at the time, and has worked out well, so the son of Kingman is taken to progress past form pick Holloway Boy.

A half-brother to Valiant Stakes winner Jumbly, out of Lady Rothchild’s Princess Elizabeth and Pretty Polly Stakes winner Thistle Bird, Epictetus is bred to be smart, and the Gosden team have given him time to develop rather than rushing him to the Solario Stakes, which was mooted after that debut success.

It’s worth mentioning that while Epictetus ran to an unusually high level on his racecourse bow, Holloway Boy fared even better when landing the Chesham Stakes without the benefit of a previous run.

Karl Burke’s charge has improved in defeat since, finishing second to Marbaan in the Vintage Stakes and filling the same spot behind the much-touted Nostrum in the Somerville Stakes over seven furlong here last time.

That progress has not been as marked as might be expected, but there is no denying the solidity of Holloway Boy’s form, and he won’t be far behind Epictetus (if at all).

With that in mind, I’d prefer to back the forecast rather than a simple win bet on the Gosden colt.

3:00 Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) 7f

I can’t work out what Chaldean must do to be considered a leading juvenile. He’s won the Acomb and the Champagne Stakes in professional manner, and while beating the same horse in Indestructible both times, increased his margin markedly at Doncaster.

He is a push-button ride, and that counts for plenty, even at this lofty level.

Chaldean will carry the second colours of Juddmonte here, and that might just help his price, with the world and his wife going Nostrum crazy.

The putative first-string was quite impressive in beating Holloway Boy by one and a quarter lengths in the Somerville Stakes over course and distance last month, but the fact that the latter won’t be favourite for the preceding Group 3 contest puts the form in some perspective.

That perspective will change depending on how Holloway Boy fares against Epictetus in the previous race, but the bottom line is that for all his promise, Nostrum has achieved less than Chaldean on the figures, and while open to progress, that comment applies in equal measure to the selection. At the odds, Andrew Balding’s strapping son of Frankel makes more appeal.

3:40 Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap 2m 2f

With extra places on offer, and value looking thin at the top-end of the market, it’s a case of digging out something which is underestimate among the relative outsiders, and while Land Of Winter has a run style which is less than endearing, he’s just the type to stay on strongly from an unpromising position to pick up a share of the spoils. This comment which also applies to Call My Bluff, who caught the eye staying on for third in the Cesarewitch Trial over the course and distance last month.

The pair met over this trip at Chester last time, when Call My Bluff ought to have won, but failed narrowly to reel in all-the-way winner Emiyn. Land Of Winter typically raced on and off the bridle that day but stayed on very strongly when the race was all but over, grabbing an unlikely fourth, and shaping as if he might have won with another 100 yards to cover.

He finished two and three-quarter lengths and two places behind Call My Bluff, although is 3lb worse off in this early-closing race.

If there’s enough rain to ensure the going is softer than good, I’d marginally prefer Land of Winter of the pair, but in the absence of significant precipitation, it will be Call My Bluff that I’ll be pressing up on.

2:05 Rockingham Stakes (Listed) 6f

It’s hard to oppose Alpha Capture here after his excellent second to Two-Year-Old Trophy winner Cold Case in a similar race at Doncaster. He had Goffs Million winner Galeron back in fourth that day, and it’s hard to imagine that form working out better.

Bay of Plenty caught the eye on his only start to date and is feared most.

2:40 Coral “Beaten-by-a-length” Free Bet Handicap 1m 2f 56yds

Protagonist will appreciate the return to a turning mile and a quarter after making most of the running on the wrong side of the track in the Cambridgeshire last time.

He won well at Sandown prior to that and looks to have more to offer for William Haggas having been switched from Jessie Harrington’s stable in the spring.

He handles good to soft, but probably wouldn’t want the ground to get too deep, so an eye needs to be kept on the weather.

Stay Well is another one who ought to go close, but I have not been impressed with his attitude under pressure this season, and he needs to do better now tried in a hood.

3:15 Coral Sprint Trophy Handicap 6f

A wide-open sprint with pace across the track. I’ve always felt that Apollo One would do well in a big-field sprint handicap on turf, and he’s had very few chances, running well from the front in the Wokingham on his last try.

This course will suit better, and he can go well at a big price.

His only run on soft ground was a win in a conditions race as a juvenile. Timeform noted that he didn’t need to improve to win an ordinary contest, but the second and third that day were Dark Shift and Whenthedealinsdone, both of whom were running off triple-digit handicap marks when last seen, so the form looks much better in retrospect, and raises the possibility that Peter Charalambous’s gelding could thrive now back under such conditions.

Epictetus/Holloway Boy 2:25 Newmarket – 1pt F/C

Chaldean 3:00 Newmarket – 1pt win @ 4/1 (Hills, 7/2 general)

Land Of Winter 3:40 Newmarket – 1pt e/w @ 40/1 (Bet365 6 places, or Coral ¼ 4 places)

Call My Bluff 3:40 Newmarket – 1pt e/w @ 20/1 (Bet365, Paddy Power, Betfair – 6 places)

Apollo One 3:15 York – 1pt e/w @ 25/1 (general – SkyBet 7 places)