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IT IS a huge Saturday of afternoon racing with a Group One of the highest order complimented by some competitive, but cracking handicaps across several tracks with Newmarket leading the way for punter-friendly plays.

A total of 14 runners will go to post for the Darley July Cup at 3.40 and what makes the market so fascinating is that the first two in the betting, Platinum Jubilee second Creative Force and Commonwealth Cup hero Perfect Power would both prefer that little bit more dig in the ground.

You could readily counteract my argument by saying that they achieved both performances on good to firm at Ascot, but having been found in the market I am happy to bet either of that duo to win again.

Aussie challenger ARTORIUS came from some way back to finish third to Naval Crown in the Platinum and this stiffer track will serve him so much better, and I am shocked to find that this down under raider is as big as 7/2 in the betting when I think he should be favourite.

We know he stays a mile, will get a lovely tow into the race with plenty of pressers set to line-up and the stiff uphill finish will be right up his street.

Jamie Spencer has once again been booked and I think he is the major piece of value in this top-tier sprint for punters.

If you are going to ignore the first half-dozen in the market then the each-way call to attract you could well be Happy Romance, only beaten two lengths by Naval Crown.

The Bunbury Cup Handicap, over seven furlongs at 3.50 always looks a deep race and this year’s renewal is no exception.

The favourite, Montassib, came from some way back on the far side of the track to finish a closing and to some eyes unlucky in running fifth in the Buckingham Palace Handicap and the handicapper has left him off the same mark of 97 here.

I think that the William Haggas-trained runner is about the right price at a best 9/2, and if getting the run of the race looks sure to be involved at the finish.

But for me the outstanding candidate in the market place has to be STAR OF ORION.

He finished a further four lengths behind today’s market leader, finding it hard to get a run from the two-furlong marker and wasn’t given too hard a time by Rob Hornby inside the final furlong, when he knew that his winning chance had gone.

I thought that he may have been dropped a pound or two that day, but the handicapper has remained steadfast in his rating.

Rattling fast ground is his domain and along with the likes of Al Rufaa (better than he showed that day back in 22nd place), old boy Bless Him and Ropey Guest, he looks potential value at a double-figure price against the main protagonists.

As far as the other supporting races are concerned, KIDWAH should go close in the fillies’ handicap at 2.05, while I fancy a big run from ADJUVANT in the mile-and-a-half handicap at 5.00.

The last-named should be really well-suited to the step up to this trip and back on his favoured fast ground, this lightly raced son of New Bay could well be the pick of the weights in what is a disappointing turnout for prize money on offer.

Fast ground should also be in force at the other three big meetings at York, Chester and Ascot and the pick of the bets could come at the Berkshire track where INVERNESS finally gets a chance to run over a staying trip in the 2.25.

His lines are full of stamina and despite running keenly and wide in the King George V Handicap over 12 furlongs at Royal Ascot he did ever so well to finish within five lengths of the winner when 10th of the 19 runners in a race that simply wasn’t run to suit him.

The five-furlong Heritage Handicap at 3.05 can go for a second time to STONE OF DESTINY who ran really well in the Epsom Dash but then put in a stinker when seeing way too much daylight in the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle.

The assessor has reacted by dropping him to a rating seven pounds below his last winning mark, and if David Probert can just get him covered up and come with his usual late run, he has a cracking chance at a big price of laying it down to the likes of another outsider Cairn Gorm, and the probable favourite Burning Cash.

WASHRAA is miles better than she showed when in midfield in the Sandringham Stakes at the Royal meeting.

She stumbled really badly a quarter of a mile out and did well in the circumstances to finish eighth of the 28 runners beaten less than five lengths.

There is surely more to come from her in the fillies’ handicap at 4.45 and the handicapper gives her a chance to prove that point off the very same rating of 84.

At York, the big betting race of the day is the Magnet Cup at 4.05 over an extended mile and a quarter and in a really blood thirsty handicap, a massive field of 23 will go to post so there are bound to be some hard luck stories.

Rogue Bear looks sure to run at the bottom of the weights, but his price has been accounted for and I would much rather have an each-way interest in a couple of horses.

Certain Lad would have been the main bet on good or softer ground. I will be having a saver on him, but I just think the lightning fast going may prove a problem so my bigger interest will be on JUST FINE, who has found a mile-and-a-half just beyond him on his last two starts.

This drop back in trip is just what the doctor ordered, and he looks a huge player at a double-figure price.

At Chester, the best bets are LANEQASH (ran below form at Newmarket), but this turning track will suit him better and FAVOURITE CHILD at 3.08.

The last named has been rated as high as a mark in the mid-90s, but 87 is a much more realistic level here.