Sam King is back with three selections on Thursday.
Newmarket's three-day July Cup meeting kicks off in headquarters, with some excellent racing on offer. Parole D'Oro would have been my best bet on the card in the finale but his price has fairly collapsed, so it's over to Tawasol in the competitive six-furlong handicap at 3.00.
Trained by the formidable duo of Simon and Ed Crisford, Tawasol has shown progressive form since switched to front running tactics, winning nicely at Brighton before making a complete mockery of his opening mark at Doncaster last time.
He's been hit with an 11lb hike in the weights for that effort, but the time of the contest was better than the other two six-furlong races on the card.
Jack Mitchell didn't have to get serious with him at Doncaster and while further improvement will be needed to claim this, he's selected to prove equal to the task with conditions to suit once more.
1pt Win – Tawasol
Odds – 8/1
Opera Ballo probably isn't one for maximum trust following his antics in the Craven Stakes where he ran with the choke out for the majority of the contest. However, he was firmly back on track with a smooth performance in the Heron Stakes at Sandown last time when fitted with the first-time hood and looks to have been found a nice opening here.
Charlie Appleby's talented three-year-old, who created a sizeable impression winning at Kempton earlier in the season, had Bay City Roller back in second at Sandown. George Scott's horse has since chased home the exciting unbeaten Daryz in Group 2 company at Saint-Cloud to give the form a boost.
The straight mile on Newmarket's July course should really suit the running style of Opera Ballo, who can give away the 3lb and give a beating to Richard Hannon's King Of Cities.
1pt Win – Opera Ballo
Odds – 5/4
Away from Newmarket, Jowalla should be able to gain compensation for a slightly unlucky debut defeat when she returns to Newbury (6.00) this evening.
The Tom Dascombe-trained filly found her path blocked on several occasions at the three-furlong marker before running on nicely into third over the same course and distance first up sixteen days ago.
That initial experience will have done her the world of good, and she's entitled to improve plenty for it both mentally and physically.
The form of that debut effort has been mixed subsequently, but I'm in no doubt that she posted the most promising effort that day and with the course experience in the book, Tom Dascombe's filly can go a few spots better.
1pt Win – Jowalla
Odds – 2/1
