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BIG field handicaps are either the scourge of some punters or the medium of punting that excites those who like to investigate the form and other factors by going deep into the analysis of such events.

With 29 runners set to go to post, the Victoria Cup (Ascot 2.40) is the first big handicap on the famous straight course this year and once again requires a mix of guile and initiative to find the winner.

Qirat could well start favourite and he comes here unexposed with just the nine runs under his belt. Following a cracking sixth over a mile here in the Britannia Handicap, the son of Showcasing was second in two seven-furlong events, over this course and distance and in a Listed event at Nottingham. He was then aimed at the Balmoral Handicap at the Berkshire track on Champions’ Day, but was balloted out and will arrive at the post today off a mark of 99 following a 219-day break.

Obviously Ralph Beckett’s charge has a lot more in his locker, but rather like his sire I think the four-year-old would benefit from at least some give in the ground, but with a fair weather forecast that is unlikely to happen.

So with the favourite set to make the market, although a drift looks likely, I will be playing two against the field.

The first is METAL MERCHANT, winner of last year’s Spring Cup at Newbury and with a lovely run under his belt in this year’s renewal, he should be at peak fitness for this straight line seven-furlong event. Seventh in the Hunt Cup last year and then a superb one length fourth of 18 in another heritage handicap over the course and distance in July, both off a mark of 97, his each-way chance is obvious here off 96 with a lovely middle of the field draw in stall 15.

My back up bet will be DILIGENT RESDEV trained by the Easterbys. Rather like the favourite, he remains unexposed ending last season with a strong running success in the Bronze Cup at Ayr off a mark of 72. His seasonal debut continued his progression with an eye catching third of nine behind Persuasion at Musselburgh off 85. Set to run off a 1lb higher mark here, the son of Due Diligence is a big player if handling this much quicker ground.

Turquino (3.15) steps onto the turf for the first time in this mile-and-a-half handicap following two wins on the sand in novice events at Southwell and Newcastle. This though is a totally different kettle of fish in a much bigger field and despite his stable still holding its rattling hot form, I have no hesitation in opposing him with the lightly raced four-year-old OCEAN OF DREAMS.

Winner of his maiden at Leopardstown over a mile on heavy ground, after two further runs for Aidan O’Brien, including thought to be good enough to run in the Ballysax Stakes, after which he was lame, he was switched to Archie Watson. Well down the field in the Spring Mile at Doncaster on his stable debut, the son of Fastnet Rock made a really nice step forward when a late running third of nine over a mile and a quarter at Pontefract last month. 

That run can be upgraded as they went a sluggish pace early on and he was outpaced turning for home, before really eating up the ground late on. This extra quarter of a mile should be right up his street and based on his breeding there is more to come over a mile and a half.

Upped to a mile and a quarter for the first time in his career, CAPE BRETON (3.50) was always going to do much better in his second season being a big, scopey individual and so his win in a Lingfield novice on his final start at a juvenile was a huge bonus. It will be interesting to see if his astute trainer lets him take his chance on the likely forecast fast ground here.

The six furlong handicap has been split into two divisions and SMART VISION (5.00) in the first leg looks an attractive each-way proposition. There are plenty of these that like to race prominently, and this strong stayer should be flying through late on. His mark of 80 is very playable and he comes here tight fit following two nice pipe openers at Beverley and Doncaster.

ABDUCTION (Haydock, 3.20) looks the each-way call on his favourite prevailing fast ground. He was never going to be competitive over five furlongs last time out and this looks a very suitable opportunity.

The Lingfield Derby and Oaks Trials have always paled into second best behind next weeks Musidora and Dante Stakes at York. There is a wholesale disappointing turnout in the Oaks Trial at 1.15 with just three runners and GISELLE looks the obvious choice, but there is much more strength in depth for the colts’ event at 3.00.

Stay True will start favourite to give Ballydoyle a double at the Surrey track and this once raced colt could be anything following his win at a Leopardstown maiden last month. However, his stable mate PUPPET MASTER with experience on his side looks the call if the ground isn’t deemed too quick by connections. His running on fourth behind another O’Brien runner Delacroix in the Ballysax was a cracking run and he should step forward from that here.

Elsewhere, THYER (Nottingham, 3.05) may well benefit from the cheek pieces added, and EPICURIAN LAD (3.40) looks a massive player off a lowly mark of 62 in a competitive class five handicap at the Colwick Park track.