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THERE are some cracking lower Group races on show at Haydock Park and Newmarket on Saturday alongside some tough handicaps in the Shergar Cup at Ascot, but my best bet of the afternoon is back at Headquarters in a class two, seven furlong handicap at 3.40.

The Godolphin trained three-year-old, Castle Rock, looks sure to start favourite for this £25,000 event on his belated three-year-old debut following two wins at the sister Rowley Mile course in October of last year. Still, I am happy to let him win at what will be restrictive odds with both of those contests hardly the deepest of events. Set to give 5lbs away to the boys in blue youngster, is HUMAM and I think the time has come to strike with the selection who has finally been given another chance by the handicapper to return to winning ways for the first time in 14 months. That success came off a mark of 85 when he readily beat up a field of 12 runners in a class three event at York, barely coming off the bridle under Jason Watson.

Not surprisingly, the tip was then hiked up some 7lbs for that success but was hardly disgraced when fifth in a much better race at Ascot. He has subsequently put up a career best effort in a Listed race in Sweden and then last time out ran much better than his finishing position suggested when 13th of 20 at Goodwood from a horrible draw way out in stall 18, finishing a never nearer eight lengths off Crimson Spirit.

Back down to a rating of 88 here, take the locally trained bay gelding to see off the Charlie Appleby runner and the lightly raced four-year-old Pinatubo’s Legacy.

The opening Sweet Solera Stakes looks a cracking renewal this year with another Godolphin charge, Graceful Song, set to go off favourite following a highly promising course and distance winning debut midway through July.

She could easily take the requisite step forward to retain her unbeaten record in this Group Three event, but the more experienced pair Nuit d’Eclair and HARLEQUIN SKY (1.55) could both prove tough nuts to crack. They finished fourth and sixth respectively in what looked a strong renewal of the Princess Margaret Stakes at Ascot, both not getting the best of runs in the closing quarter mile.

That run from the selection followed a cracking third of 25 against the boys in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and with the likelihood of a fast pace on here she is taken to pounce late up the final climb to land this prestigious two-year-old event for fillies.

Just over half-an-hour later, the seven furlong Nursery Handicap could well go the way of Richard Hughes-trained BETTY BOOP (2.30). Hughes had some near misses at the recent Glorious Goodwood meeting, notably with the well-backed The Bookkeeper in the big seven furlong nursery at the East Sussex track and he could gain handsome compensation here with this daughter of Mehmas, who could easily have been unbeaten in two career outings.

Last time out, she ran on very strongly to see off Elevating by a length and three-quarters in a fillies’ novice at York and she looks sure to relish both this stiffer track and seventh furlong.

GO RIMBAUD (4.14) was among a number of runners that had a horrendous passage at Goodwood last week, but the son of Palace Pier is brought out quickly here to contest a class three affair. Set to race off the same mark of 85, he could well have too much in his locker for the likes of Man of Vision and the top weight and hat-trick seeking Drymee.

At Haydock Park, the Merseyside track has its first meeting since work was carried out at the racecourse since substantial subsidence was found and the feature Rose of Lancaster Stakes could well go the way of CONVERGENT (2.25).

Tailed off in both the Group One Coronation Cup and Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket, this is a significant drop in grade and I am confident that his trainer Karl Burke wouldn’t be going to the well again, unless he had him in tip top form. He will have to be near his best though to see off Magnet Cup fourth Danger Bay and the Wolferton Stakes beaten favourite Nahraan from the Gosden camp.

Later on, FALLEN ANGEL (3.00) can make a winning return since her last of four in the Middleton Stakes at York, when she takes on 10 rivals in the Dick Hern Stakes over a mile. Ground is crucial for this daughter of Too Darn Hot and as long as there is no sting in the turf, she should make it eight wins from 16 outings in her career at the main expense of the three-year-old Pacific Mission.

It is the Shergar Cup over at Ascot, not a meeting I am entirely in love with it has to be said, but I think that there are two outstanding bets on the card.

You could argue that BOLO NEIGHS (1.35) is perhaps better off over an easy six furlongs than a tough five. However, there is a bundle of pace on in the Shergar Cup Dash and a 5lbs turnaround in the weights with All Ways Glamorous on C&D last month should enable the four-year-old to reverse that form. The best quotes of around 5/1 look fair enough.

At a much bigger price, MARNIER (2.10) looks hard to ignore in the Shergar Cup Stayers Handicap. As this son of Saxon Warrior has been stepped up in trip, the better his figures have become and following a win over 14 furlongs at Sandown, he could take another step forward here on his first start over two miles. A 3lbs penalty gives him a realistic each-way chance of taking this step up in grade in his stride, with question marks about several of his rivals.