2:30 NORFOLK STAKES

McErin was a contender for the Norfolk Stakes “right from the start” according to Wesley Ward and he is likely to start favourite for the race his trainer won with No Nay Never in 2013. The horse has a mainly dirt pedigree but Ward is confident he will act fine on turf and he should put up a bold show.

Of his opposition, Santry looks a big player, though it’s worth noting both of his wins have come on softish ground. Havana Grey should have a say for Karl Burke but Richard Fahey’s It Don’t Come Easy is a most interesting contender. Connections decided to swerve the Coventry on Tuesday to race over the five furlongs here and that should suit this son of Kyllachy. He beat Rebel Assault on his debut at Musselburgh, with the pair pulling 10 lengths clear of their rivals and clocking a very good time in the process. He can put it up to the US challenger.

SELECTION: IT DON’T COME EASY NEXT BEST: MCERIN

3:05 HAMPTON COURT STAKES

An interesting 10-furlong contest which brings together form from Ireland, Britain and France at a variety of distances. Mirage Dancer is favourite at the time of writing - he put up an eyecatching performance when finishing fourth in the Dee Stakes and Sir Michael Stoute has elected to keep him back for this, instead of having a crack at the Derby. However his form doesn’t match up to what Benbatl has achieved so far and Saeed Bin Suroor’s horse is taken to continue the good run of the boys in blue.

The son of Dubawi only made his debut in April, but since then has performed to a high level - finishing third in the Craven, second in the Dante and a highly creditable fifth in the Derby. He’s probably still improving and as long as his Epsom exertions haven’t taken a toll, he’ll be difficult to beat here. The main Irish hopes according to the betting are Irishcorrespondent and Orderofthegarter but both have a little to prove now so the second vote goes to Taj Mahal, who comes into this race off a career best fourth place finish in the French Derby.

SELECTION: BENBATL NEXT BEST: TAJ MAHAL

Naughty Or Nice battles well to get the better of subsequent winner Grandee at Navan

3:40 RIBBLESDALE STAKES

Alluringly sets the standard here on the back of her Oaks third, of which the fifth, Coronet, reopposes. Sandwiched between them in the betting is Mori, the intriguing daughter of Frankel and Midday who has looked impressive winning on both of her last two starts.

However the one I like most is Naughty Or Nice, who could provide her trainer John Oxx with a much needed high-profile winner. She won her maiden first time out at Gowran Park, beating the Jim Bolger-trained Bean Feasa, who franked that form by winning a Group 3 on her next start. Naughty Or Nice then went on to win a one-mile-five-furlong listed race at Navan, outstaying Jessica Harrington’s Grandee, who subsequently won at listed level at Leopardstown. The daughter of Fastnet Rock will be only having her third start now and she can improve again. She clearly stays well and will also wear first-time blinkers. She can run a big race.

SELECTION: NAUGHTY OR NICE NEXT BEST: MORI

4:20 GOLD CUP

Last year’s winner Order Of St George is rightly favourite for Aidan O’Brien who is going for a remarkable eighth win in this race. The five-year-old son of Galileo warmed up for this with a comfortable win at Leopardstown and he will have plenty of supporters at a shade of odds-on. However he is beatable, as he showed when turned over at a very short price in last season's Irish St Leger and back here in the Long Distance Cup on Champions Day.

Sheikhzayedroad loves it around Ascot

Sheikhzayedroad and Simple Verse are big players. The former, trained by David Simcock, has improved since being campaigned as a stayer, which began with an excellent third-place finish in this race last season. His latest effort, when finishing a close third to Vazirabad in the Dubai Gold Cup, is excellent form. Ralph Beckett has no doubts Simple Verse will stay this two-mile-four-furlong trip and, if that is the case, she will have a big say. She put up a good effort to finish second to Dartmouth at Sandown on her seasonal debut and she receives weight from most of her rivals here, so will not need to improve a great deal to get involved in the finish.

SELECTION: SHEIKHZAYEDROAD NEXT BEST: SIMPLE VERSE

5:00 BRITANNIA STAKES

This three-year-old handicap is extremely competitive and choc full of improving and unexposed horses. Richard Hannon’s Son Of The Stars has been the subject of good market support and may well start favourite. He is closely matched with Michael Bell’s Ronald R, who beat him a head at Newmarket and there shouldn’t be much between the pair again.

The Charlie Hills-trained Afaak is another horse with an improving profile. He has won his last two and, on his most recent start at Doncaster, he probably won in spite of the soft ground rather than with the help of it. He is a son of Oasis Dream and former Coronation Stakes winner Ghanaati and he could be the answer to this tricky heat.

SELECTION: AFAAK NEXT BEST: RONALD R

5:35 KING GEORGE V STAKES

A tentative vote goes to First Nation in this competitive closing handicap. Charlie Appleby’s son of Dubawi has twice been placed over 10 furlongs and twice has shaped as if a longer trip would suit. He gets that chance today over this 12-furlong trip and is taken to continue Godolphin’s fine form.

At a much bigger price Sheila Lavery’s Twin Star is worth considering. He ran a fine race when fourth behind Homesman in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes at the Curragh on his previous run and has since changed ownership for a pretty £260,000. This will be only his fifth run and he will handle the fast ground fine.

SELECTION: FIRST NATION NEXT BEST: TWIN STAR