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AFTER the high group one events of last week at Epsom and Chantilly, this afternoon’s action seems rather tame and yet there are some interesting graded and handicap events well worth having a deeper look at mainly centred around Haydock Park.

The Group Three John Of Gaunt Stakes (3.35) has attracted an unusually big field and I suspect that the layers will be offering something in the way of 7/2 the field probably led by Witch Hunter, who arguably ran a career best at the age of five when a late-running third behind Audience in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

He will certainly get the end to end gallop he needs to show his best form here and quite rightly has to be respected.

But he looks just about the right price in the market place here and I would much rather have an each-way play on 2022 winner and now veteran POGO.

His back-to-form second behind Shartash in a Listed race over course and distance on May 11 served to show that the fire still burns bright for this eight-year-old, and as long as the ground stays on the fast side of good, he looks sure to play his part from the front or at the very least close to the sharp end and stall four only enhances that chance.

Of the other rivals I have the greatest respect for last year’s winner Jumby who was very highly tried towards the back end of last year.

His comeback run in the Victoria Cup was better than his finishing position suggested, as he was very free in midfield off an unusually moderate pace for that event.

Again, if the ground remains on top he has solid claims here.

The Group Three Pinnacle Stakes at 3.00 looks just as tough to dissect but I have been waiting for SEA THEME to return to action as a four-year-old, and fancy that he will leave even this esteemed company behind as we enter the second half of the season.

A game winner of the Galtres Stakes last season, she then for some reason ran way below par in the Group Three Challenge Stakes at Newmarket. I am happy to forgive that one bad run as she is a let maturing sort who should be at her physical peak this year and gets the call over the likes of Miss Cantik and Ching Shih.

Of the handicaps on the card at the Merseyside track, I am rather sweet on the claims of LIR SPECIALE (4.45). Unexposed on the grass with two wins from six starts, this son of Prince of Lir has several times in his career looked as though seven furlongs would always be his trip, but to my eyes a fast run six looks like being more his preserve, and should he run well here and earn a rise in the weights, then the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot looks no forlorn hope in 14 days time.

I loved the way he finished off his race on his first career start over five furlongs last time out, shaping as though he just needed the run, and back up to six furlongs anything in the region of 12/1 could prove to be a viable each-way play before a shot at the big summer show piece down Berkshire way. I make the veteran Fresh and Jim Goldie’s Abduction the biggest bit part players.

The opening Achilles Stakes (1.50) looks an interesting contest and offers a good opportunity for KORKER to improve on last year’s fourth to Regional after a couple of unlucky runs at handicap level. He should get a lovely tow through this race through next door neighbour Tees Spirit and get first run on the admirable Commanche Falls who could probably do with a stiffer course to play on.

Beverley has its main day of the season in the sun with the highlight being the Hilary Needler Trophy (2.05). Plenty of two-year-olds before this year’s renewal have failed to act on this track which requires a well balanced sort that also has the ability to stay a few yards further than the bare five furlongs on offer.

Based on her sole run to date at Thirsk, Maw Lam (beat Mademoiselle) on that occasion, she looks a fine prospect form Adrian Nicholls, but cannot afford to dwell in the gates again to take advantage of a box one draw.

STORM CALL is the one for me after Karl Burke’s charge managed to overcome greenness to open her account on her second race at Windsor. A stall 14 draw requires that she will need plenty of luck down the outside, but I think that coming from out the pack and being held up could help her produce a career best which she will undoubtedly need to win this competitive renewal.

Several of the 16 runners set to line up in the extended seven furlong handicap at 3.15 have run against each other both this season and last. BILLYB looks a really solid each-way call at around 14/1 following a solid enough return to the track at York at the back end of May.

That fifth of 18 behind Feel The Need can be upgraded as he was drawn way out wide that day and ran as if just in need of the run as well. Being dropped a pound to a mark of 76 was a bonus as is his stall position in box number four and he gets the call over course and distance winner Cliffcake and Waiting All Night.

BLUEFLAGFLYINGHIGH (3.50) also looked in need of his seasonal debut at Ripon and the much quicker ground on show at the pear-shaped track should certainly play in his favour, while MOVING FORCE is taken to retain his unbeaten record for the in-form Richard Fahey in the other feature on the card, the Two-Year-Old Trophy.

A mark of 60 gives Shark One Two solid claims in the Catterick 2.45, but he may have to give best to the three-year-old CUBAN FIESTA. Ed Dunlop’s charge is worth another charge after running way too free at Yarmouth last time out and was well beaten well before the quarter-mile pole.

The step down to seven furlongs around a bend may well be the answer, while the first time cheek pieces are also a plus for him.