4.40 Carlisle, Wednesday, June 22

In the 4.40 Carlisle on Wednesday, Masterpaver was only just touched off on his hat-trick attempt, in a lady amateur riders’ event over 1 mile 4 furlongs at York 11 days ago and, reunited with Tony Hamilton, may be able to regain the winning thread. The Mastercraftsman gelding has been raised a further 4lb in the weights, but drops back into 0-85 company and is equally effective at this slightly shorter distance. Prior to joining Richard Fahey in April, he had been campaigned largely on synthetic surfaces for much of his career, but has taken advantage of his much lower turf mark since joining his new yard. Even so, he remains 10lb lower in the weights than when winning over 1 mile 6 furlongs on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton two seasons ago, so it’s difficult to argue that he’s not well handicapped. He appears versatile with regard to underfoot conditions, so should run his race whatever the weather in Cumbria.

Selections: Carlisle 4.40 Masterpaver to win

Investec Diomed Stakes, 3.10 Epsom, Friday, June 3

In the Investec Diomed Stakes (3.10) at Epsom on Friday, Arod was little disappointing when beaten in a Listed race at Ascot on his seasonal reappearance in April, but was entitled to need that run – his first since last November – and can resume winning ways. Peter Chapple-Hyam’s 5-year-old escapes a Group 2 penalty and, having comfortably beaten Custom Cut by 2 lengths in this race last year, should have no problem with the idiosyncrasies of Epsom.

His second, beaten just half a length, behind Solow in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood last July is far and away the best single piece of form on offer and, provided his fruitless trip to Australia last autumn hasn’t done any lasting damage, he must take a world of beating here. He’s yet to race on going slower than good to soft, so possibly doesn’t want too much rain, but otherwise had plenty going for him. At 5/2 with Stan James in the ante post market, Arod looks a decent bet to repeat last year’s win.

Selection: Epsom 3.10 Arod (5/2 with Stan James) to win

4.45 Wolverhampton, Tuesday, May 24

In the 4.45 at Wolverhampton on Tuesday, Ickymasho has been quietly progressive since switched to artificial surfaces last autumn, winning over 1 mile 4 furlongs at Kempton and Wolverhampton and running creditably in defeat off her revised mark, over 1 mile 2 furlongs at Chelmsford. She appeared to translate her improvement back to turf when third of six, beaten 3 lengths, behind Distant High over 1 mile 2 furlongs at Chepstow last month but, back over 1 mile 4 furlongs, on Tapeta, with the benefit of that run behind her, she looks to have a decent chance of regaining the winning thread. She may have more scope for improvement than recent Musselburgh winner Bayan Kasirga, who nevertheless looks the pick of the opposition. The form of the yard is a slight concern, but she’s from an excellent family and may well be able to continue her progress.

Selection: Wolverhampton 4.45 Ickymasho to win

3.45 York, Thursday, May 12th

In the Hambleton Stakes (3.45) at York on Thursday, David O’Meara doesn’t make life easy by saddling three runners, all of whom have some sort of a chance, but Lord Of The Land is the choice of Daniel Tudhope and there appears no obvious reason to argue with the stable jockey. Formerly trained by André Fabre in France, the son of Shamardal finished out with the washing, when second favourite, in the Lincoln at Doncaster early last month, but ran much better when fifth of 13, beaten 3¼ lengths, behind Predominance in a 0-105 contest over 7 furlongs at Haydock three weeks later.

Four of his five career wins have come over a mile or further and, while the prevailing good to firm going is slightly faster than he’s encountered so far, he has winning form on good going. The horse he beat in a small race at Fontainebleau last September, Don Bosco, subsequently finished third in a Group 3 contest and won a Listed race in the French provinces, so he looks well up to this standard, especially now that he’s had time to acclimatise to his new surroundings.

Selections: York 3.45 Lord Of The Land to win