The 48^th running of the John Smiths Magnet Cup at York is the highlight of this weekend's racing.  Traditionally a tricky affair for punting, this year looks no different.  Added to this is the somewhat controversial decision to reduce the length of the race to 9F from 10½ due to problems with the ground.  Richard Fahey sends a strong team in pursuit of this sizeable pot and the pick of them would be Smart Instinct.  This individual has shown decent form when close up in equally competitive handicaps at Haydock and York and doesn’t appear to be inconvenienced by the forecast going.  The feature down at Ascot is the Group 2 Summer Mile Stakes.  Among the declarations is the handicap “blip” Royal Oath, fresh off the back of a romp in the Royal Hunt Cup.  However this race also sees Cesare, last year's Royal Hunt Cup winner and I think it’s wise to remain loyal to James Fanshawe’s charge.  Fifth in a blanket finish in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes when well fancied he should be able to score this time at Group 2 level.  In the preceding Euro Earthworks Novice stakes Jeremy Noseda’s Baffled should take all the beating.  An unlucky third in the Albany at Royal Ascot last time, the form of the race has been franked by the 2^nd placed You’resothrilling winning the Cherry Hinton with 11^th placed Festoso second and 9^th placed Loch Jipp also running well on the unfavoured far side at Newmarket.

Selections: 2.15 Ascot – 4 Baffled

                     2.50 Ascot – 5 Cesare