IF THE same STARMAN turns up for the Sprint Stakes (Haydock Park 3.30) as the one we saw running away with the July Cup at Newmarket, and if the ground remains on the fast side of good as forecast, then it is simply game over for his 10 rivals in the feature event of the day.

Drawn close to the stands’ siderail in stall 10, the four-year-old will get a lovely tow into the race — and his top-class turn of foot should land connections back-to-back Group One prizes and the Champion Sprint title to boot.

But if you are looking to play something at a big price to hit the frame, complete outsider Nando Parrado could and should outrun his top odds of 66/1.

He ran way too freely last time out in the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury over seven furlongs, but I remain convinced that this is his optimum trip. It is also worth noting that this will be only his fourth start over six furlongs and only his second on top of the ground at this distance.

The Old Borough Cup (2.55) is always a cracking handicap and several of the 12 runners have run into each other throughout the season.

Old Indianapolis is beginning to look very well handicapped on his best form and this long straight will certainly suit him. And if the forecasters have got it wrong and the rain arrives in time I couldn’t put any of you off Rhythmic Intent, but he would look vulnerable on faster ground.

We can also easily forgive Global Storm’s moderate run in the Ebor at York as that track simply doesn’t suit certain horses and he is respected, but the one I like here is NOBLE MASQUERADE.

The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained charge has made really good progress of late and I thought that he was seriously impressive (albeit in a lesser race at Windsor last time out) when seeing off Leroy Leroy with the minimum of fuss.

A 6lbs penalty here means he will require a career-best effort to record a third victory, and of course the extra quarter of a mile asks a question as well. But he could still be well handicapped and it is worth remembering that this will be only his 13th career start.

There is also a competitive five-furlong handicap at 4.05. You could give a serious chance to all of the 10 runners on their very best form, but I thought that MONDAMMEJ was a massive eye-catcher last time out at York.

That track seems to suit his run style, and regular rider Cam Hardie was not overly hard on him in the closing stages once his winning chance looked to have been lost.

He is better off at the weights with the evergreen winner Copper Knight, and I fancy that he will also reverse form with the fourth home that day, Jawaal, on the same terms on this slightly stiffer track.

Like my selection in the Old Borough, he too will possibly need a career-best run. But as long as Hardie can get him buried in mid-division and unleash him at the distance, his turn of foot in the closing 150 yards could prove the difference here.

The concluding mile handicap at 5.15 could go to the seriously well treated GIN PALACE. Rated as high as 90 this time last year, the five-year-old has fallen to a mark of 79.

The key to his chance is Charles Bishop getting him to settle off an even pace, and there has been plenty of promise in his defeats at Windsor and Newmarket on two of his last three outings.

Over at Kempton Park there are a couple of Group Three events, and in uncompetitive renewals WINGS OF WAR (Sirenia Stakes, 2.05) and HUKUM (September Stakes, 2.40) have every chance of landing their respective gold medals.

But the big betting race of the day at the Sunbury-on-Thames track is the London Mile Series Final Handicap at 3.15.

Due to the qualifying process of this race, the majority of the 14 runners have won at the track with no less than eight course-and-distance winners set to line up.

The likes of Tahitian Prince and the hat-trick seeking Thunderclap will quite rightly have their supporters, but at 33/1 I can’t resist having an each-way play on BUCKINGHAM (nb).

He has a 13lbs pull with the Prince for being beaten two and a quarter lengths here at the back end of June in their qualifying race.

Regular rider Georgia Dobie will once again have him anchored at the back of the pack and hope they go a mad pace up front. If they do, I can see the selection picking his way through the field in the closing stages and hitting the frame at the very least.

The one-mile nursery handicap at 3.50 is also interesting, with many of the 10 runners stepping up to this distance for the first time in their careers.

At a price I am drawn towards is the bottom weight AT LIBERTY (nap), brought along steadily this year by Michael Bell.

I thought he was a bit of an eye-catcher when eighth of 14 behind Implore in a Beverley Maiden, finishing off nicely under the minimum of pressure for Dylan Hogan.

That third qualifying run has resulted in an opening handicap mark of just 61, and a frantic early pace will certainly play to his strengths here.