Dolphin Vista (nap) was very strongly fancied for last year’s Cambridgeshire, but a drying week put paid to his chance and he was withdrawn. But compensation awaits this afternoon at Newmarket at 3.35.

This season the son of Zoffany has only appeared on the racetrack three times and indeed was well beaten by this afternoon’s favourite Thundering Blue at Sandown Park last time out.

However, he has now been dropped to within a pound of his last winning performance and he also appears to be well drawn in box 29.

There are any number of dangers, as you would expect in such a big field cavalry charge, the best of which could well be the old man GM Hopkins, 12th and sixth in this race before and nicely handicapped off a mark of 107.

The three-year-old Kings Gift and Godolphin’s Linguistic also have solid each-way claims.

On a brilliant day of racing at Headquarters, I think that the Brian Meehan-trained Petrus is hugely overpriced at around the 20/1 marker in the opening Royal Lodge Stakes at 1.50.

The twice-raced colt was given a nice educational career debut behind the ultra-smart Expert Eye at Newbury and put that experience to good use when smashing up his field in a novice race at Sandown Park in July.

Given time to mature and strengthen since then, he has apparently worked brilliantly in the last fortnight and could be the value each-way call against the likes of Nelson and Herculean.

Clemmie will almost certainly go off a tight favourite for the following Cheveley Park Stakes at 2.20, but I am really keen on the claims of the Mark Johnston-trained Threading.

A maiden win was followed by a brilliant success in the Lowther Stakes at York and this athletic-looking filly should relish conditions at Newmarket and anything around the 4/1 mark looks outstanding value against the O’Brien filly.

Clubbable can finally get off the mark in the valuable nursery at 4.45, while the big-field seven-furlong handicap at the back end of the card may go to Scofflaw, off bottom weight following an impressive success at Epsom last time out.

The Ayr Gold Cup has been resurrected at Haydock Park this afternoon at 3.15 and the well-handicapped Aeolus (nb) has solid claims along with Shanghai Glory.

The selection won’t mind the change of venue having won over course and distance before and if he comes anywhere near his fifth place in the Temple Stakes last year at the Lancashire track then he looks sure to hit the frame at the very least. 

Later on, the ultra-genuine Muatadel can once again return to winning form in the 3.50, while Tawdeea can give the weight away all round in the concluding mile-and-a-half handicap at 5.35.

At Chester, soft ground will be very much to the liking of recent course-winner Bahama Moon at 3.40, while the same remark applies to Always Resolute at 5.55.