Historically, North Yorkshire trainer David O’Meara has a poor record on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket, but he appears to have found an excellent opportunity for Zacynthus to record his second win for the yard in the TurfTV Handicap (4.20). Following his transfer from Shaun Harris in July, the Iffraaj gelding won a similar contest at Ayr at the first time of asking and, although winless in six subsequent starts, looks to have plenty going for him.

He could finish only nineteenth of twenty, beaten 20 lengths, behind Bertiewhittle at York earlier this month (when favourite), but is better judged on his 1½-length defeat by Edgar Balthazar in a 0-90 contest at Ayr ten days earlier. The 7-year-old remains 1lb higher in the weights than at Ayr, but it’s interesting that David O’Meara has booked Robert Winston – who has a 3-7 (43%) strike rate on older horses for the yard in recent seasons – for his sole ride of the afternoon at Newmarket.

Zacynthus has recorded all five career wins over 7 furlongs, including on the July Course at Newmarket, his two recent wins came on good to soft and soft going and he won a 0-90 contest off a 3lb higher mark earlier in his career so, if he can be forgiven his latest below-par effort, he really looks something to bet on. Josh Doyle, his jockey at York, reported that he ran flat and a post-race examination failed to reveal any abnormalities, so it’s reasonable to assume he just had an off-day.

Selection: Newmarket 4.20 Zacynthus to win