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THE Cambridgeshire meeting at Newmarket marks the beginning of the end of the turf flat season with the 35-runner handicap (3.40) at the top of the betting agenda for handicap lovers.

One of the key factors in deciding which horse to invest in will be derived from where the pace is set to come from. Former winner Majestic Dawn (drawn 14) is probably the main protagonist in the pace arena along with Injazati (18), among six other horses that have in the past led or raced prominently. Among those other six, they are spaced evenly across the draw.

Let’s start with the big outsiders. First up I think that Scottish raider Geremia (drawn 4) will outrun his price. Although the son of Fastnet Rock has mainly been racing over further (up to two miles) on his last three starts over a mile-and-a-quarter, he has not been short of pace, running fifth to the smart Phantom Flight at York before twice finishing close up over the stiff Newcastle track behind Tregony.

Although zero for 13 on the flat turf, several of those starts, particularly his York entitle him to plenty of respect even in this most competitive of handicaps.

He is likely to be my big price back up bet behind my main selections, PEROTTO and CAROLUS MAGNUS.

The first named has some solid Group Two and Three form to his name and actually looks nicely treated on the best of his form on the back end of last season when finishing close up in the Joel Stakes at this meeting.

The best of his runs this season have come in Listed company, a close up third of fourth behind My Oberon in the Midsummer Stakes at Windsor, beaten only three parts of a length.

Carolus Magnus has always been well regarded by Andrew Balding but hasn’t really fulfilled his potential, yet, in a 12-runner career.

His most recent runs at Doncaster and Ascot show that he is entitled to plenty of respect off this mark of 90. A winner over a mile at the Rowley course back in September last year at this meeting and he has since run well here three times. I think he is massively overpriced at around the 40/1 mark.

Of the other runners in the 35-runner field, the likes of Bell Rock, Kempton Park winner, First View and the aforementioned Injazati are respected most.

Away from this mammoth sized handicap, the two-year-olds take pride of place with the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes (2.25) at the top of the tree.

A healthy field of 10 will go to post headed by the Aidan O’Brien trained MEDITATE, runner-up to the hugely impressive Tahiyra in the Moyglare Stakes.

She is the obvious calling card even though this is quite a short turn around for her, but a win here would make her Curragh conqueror look a mighty hot calling for next year’s 1,000 Guineas.

The Flying Childers winner, Trillium, along with Queen Mary third Maylandsea could give the daughter of No Nay Never most to do.

Of the other juvenile contests, there is a really moderate turn out for the Royal Lodge Stakes (1.50), but that is probably due to the declaration of Stonehenge Stakes winner FLYING HONOURS who, even at this early stage, looks an Epsom Derby contender in the making.

The form of that Salisbury contest is not exactly red hot, but it was the manner of his performance that excited me and a convincing victory here could well send him into winter quarters as the new favourite for next year’s big event.

The Middle Park Stakes (3.00) has really good depth to it this year with the most interesting runner being the once raced ZOOLOGY, an impressive winner of a Yarmouth novice two weeks ago.

James Ferguson wouldn’t put him in at this level if he didn’t think he could do himself justice, and he could well be the value call over Blackbeard and the highly regarded Marshman.

The fillies’ nursery handicap at 4.50 at the back end of the card is also of betting interest to me, and I will be having quite a lumpy each-way play on joint bottom weight ZEBRA STAR.

The George Boughey trained daughter of Gregorian produced a career best, and by some way, by hacking up on her handicap debut at Yarmouth seeing off Mickey Donovan and five other rivals by three-and-a-quarter lengths and more.

A faster run seven furlongs looks sure to suit even more and she gets the each-way vote over maiden Coco Jamboo and Queen of Deauville.

The final race on the Newmarket card, a class two, seven furlong handicap looks very competitive. Course and distance winner Tuscan should run well and looks a big player here along with top weight Path of Thunder.

The last named has been given a real chance by the handicapper. Already a winner on the July course, he is a seven-furlong specialist and has been dropped a full 9lbs in the ratings this year. He may well be worth a saver behind another well handicapped sort in HURRICANE IVOR.

Winner of the World Trophy Stakes, the son of Ivawood has raced exclusively over five and six furlongs in his 20 race career (five victories), but he has always looked as though a step up to seven furlongs would suit and he could well put off a big shock here if on one of his going days.

Finally, away from Newmarket the best bets of the day come at Chester where MIGHTY GURKHA can make up for being a beaten favourite in the seven furlong handicap at 2.15 and FANDABIDOZI can outrun his big odds in the 4.00.

Over at Haydock MONTASSIB, who has side stepped the Cambridgeshire can land the class 2 handicap at 2.05 and KENDRED FIRE looks the each-way play in the finale at Ripon at 5.33.