Michael Bell’s youngster claimed Royal Ascot glory in the Norfolk Stakes in June, since when he has finished second in the Prix Robert Papin at Deauville and the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.

Bell hopes he can get back on the winning trail in the five-furlong Group Two, provided conditions are in his favour.

“The horse worked nicely last week and is in good form,” said the Newmarket trainer.

“We’re keen to let him take his chance. I’m just hoping the ground doesn’t dry out too much.”

Fallon takes over in the saddle on Town Moor, having recently been appointed second jockey to prominent owners Qatar Racing – whose number one rider Oisin Murphy is currently sidelined by suspension.

One of the rising stars of the weighing room, Fallon has already enjoyed success for Bell – as his father Kieren did aboard the yard’s subsequent Derby hero Motivator in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster 16 years ago.

Bell added: “I’m a big fan of Cieren’s. He rode the Qatar Racing winner for us at Catterick earlier in the week (Twilight Heir) and has ridden plenty for us this year. I couldn’t say for sure, but I would guess he’s ridden half a dozen winners for us.

“His father rode a lot for us back in the day, and the one that sticks out is Motivator in the Racing Post Trophy. He would have kept the ride as a three-year-old, but he took the Ballydoyle job that year.

“I was always a big fan of Kieren as well.”

The Lir Jet is set for a fourth clash this summer with the Richard Hannon-trained Ventura Tormenta.

The latter was sixth in the Norfolk Stakes on his debut and beat The Lir Jet by a short head in the Prix Robert Papin, but was a disappointing last of 10 in the Phoenix.

Hannon also saddles Mohawk King – while Michael O’Callaghan’s Steel Bull, the Ger Lyons-trained Frenetic and Measure Of Magic from Johnny Murtagh’s yard are three major contenders from Ireland.

William Haggas is looking forward to saddling Sacred, who has finished second in the Queen Mary at the Royal meeting and in the Lowther at York since winning on her Newmarket introduction.

He said: “Sacred is in good order, and the more the ground dries out the better for her.

“She’s very well, and I think coming back from six to five furlongs will suit. I hope she’ll run a nice race.”

Ubettabelieveit (Nigel Tinkler), Winter Power (Tim Easterby), Perotto (Marcus Tregoning) and Burning Cash (Paul Midgley) complete an 11-strong field

Roger Varian’s well-related Frankel filly displayed a smart change of gear to put some more experienced rivals in their place on her racecourse introduction in late July – and the form has been well advertised since by a couple of those that finished behind.

Zabeel Queen faces a significant step up in class for the first of two Group Two events at Doncaster on Thursday, but jockey Andrea Atzeni is hopeful she will prove up to the task.

“She’s a nice filly who won a novice race at Ascot over seven furlongs quite impressively. We were hopeful going to Ascot, but you never really know when you’re taking on horses with more experience,” said the Italian rider.

“She was a bit green, but she did it well and Charlie Appleby’s two fillies who finished behind her (Renaissance Rose, fourth and Creative Flair, sixth) have both won since, I believe.

“Stepping up to a mile on a flat track like Doncaster shouldn’t be a problem.

“It is a step up in grade, but she’s entitled to be there and I’m looking forward to it.”

Zabeel Queen is the likely favourite among nine juvenile fillies declared.

John Gosden and Frankie Dettori team up with Yarmouth winner Indigo Girl, while William Haggas saddles Lilac Road – a winner over the May Hill course and distance on her second start, having finished fifth first time out at Newmarket.

“She won very well at Doncaster and I think she’s fully entitled to have a crack at it,” said Haggas.

“It looks a strong-ish renewal, but our filly is going the right way and I hope she’ll run well.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Irish challenger Ubuntu, the Kevin Ryan-trained Star Of Emaraaty and Mark Johnston’s course scorer Dubai Fountain are also in the mix.

The Varian-Atzeni axis is represented in the Group Two bet365 Park Hill Stakes by Believe In Love, who is three from three on turf this summer – completing her hat-trick with a 10-length demolition job at Newmarket last month.

Atzeni said: “She’s a very progressive filly who has won her last three races.

“It’s a big step up from a handicap to a Group Two. We don’t really know how good Believe In Love is as she’s improving all the time.”

The likely favourite was Alpinista, but she was a significant late withdrawal after scoping badly.

Monica Sheriff has won five of her seven starts for Haggas and was far from disgraced in finishing fourth in the Ebor at York last time.

“She came out of the Ebor well and I’m very happy with her going into the race,” said the Newmarket handler.

“I just wouldn’t want to see the ground dry out too much, but she’s very well.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Pista and Aidan O’Brien’s Snow are also part of an eight-strong field.

There is a huge prize fund up for grabs in the Weatherbys Racing Bank £200,000 2-Y-O Stakes.

The standard is set by the Haggas-trained Yazaman, who has finished second in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, the July Stakes at Newmarket and the Richmond at Goodwood this summer, but could only place sixth in the Gimcrack at York on his latest outing.

Haggas said: “He was very disappointing in the Gimcrack and we’re changing the headgear from blinkers to a visor.

“He’s got the talent to win.”

The initial shopping frenzy has cooled. I act as driver for our once-a-week taxi journey a few miles to the usual supermarket where I stay secure in the car with the windows firmly closed while Mrs S does the six-foot-apart car park snake towards the entrance. Inside, she assures me, she scrupulously adheres to the one-way arrows on the floor and reckons she’s almost the only shopper who does. Food is available now and thousands have died as we proceed in our frozen state.

The Racing Post, predictably and understandably, has been forced to reduce the size of its daily computer newspaper usually to eight pages, so I’ve no idea if the birthdays remain available. For my part I just have a quick squint before looking elsewhere.

I mention birthdays because Easter Sunday would have been the 100^th birthday of my father had he not died 18 years ago. For years I regretted he had never seen the development of the Olympic Park, part of his home turf for all his life, apart from the six years he had to give up to join in the Second World War, which he spent mostly in Egypt. Not only did he not see the Olympics, he never knew they were coming. My mum was still alive and I can still picture sitting with her as the announcement that the Games had been won and would be staged in London in 2012 was broadcast to the nation.

Dad took me racing, to Arsenal and to the Oval as a kid, three pastimes that have never wavered in my interest. His principal goal in life seemed to be to ensure that I joined Eton Manor boys sports club as soon as I could, which meant on my 14^th birthday.

Sixty years on, we took our permitted walk on Saturday with a puffing Yorkshire terrier, close to the River Lea, on the same land where I’d played so much of my cricket as a kid. I had even contrived to play in a match there rather than watch the World Cup Final in 1966, three years after – between innings – watching the famous Irish Derby when Relko, the runaway Derby winner, had to be withdrawn lame a few minutes before the start. That left the nine-length Epsom third Ragusa to step up.

Working for the racing press led me to so many places and a great deal of the more unlikely connections came from making summer trips to Kentucky when Keeneland still had the July Selected Yearling sale. In the late 1980’s I’d bumped into the former teen idol David Cassidy there, so when on Friday I noticed that an hour and a half documentary was to air promising the last recordings of the life that ended aged 67 three years ago, it was required viewing.

The all-encompassing years when his role in the antiseptic TV show The Partridge Family, which led to his becoming the most-worshipped pop star of the early 1970’s, were already way behind him. He got into racing and breeding and a couple of times we happened to be in the same company at dinner in the famed Dudley’s restaurant in downtown Lexington.

Then at Epsom on Derby Day 1987, I noticed someone in morning dress looking over at me. It was David, and he said he recognised me from Kentucky and asked where could he get a good view of the big race? It was the days of the old Epsom grandstand – two structures ago! -and I said I could sneak him up to the top of the Press stand.

As an American, he got a great thrill seeing his compatriot and friend Steve Cauthen coming home clear on Henry Cecil’s all-the-way winner Reference Point. Cassidy was in London that summer having taken over the leading role originally played in the West End by Cliff Richard in the musical, Time. He invited the family to see the show and asked the five of us backstage to his dressing room afterwards. He seemed a very nice chap and it was salutary to discover from the documentary the problems he had with his own father, the film star and famous tenor, Jack Cassidy.

Even more devastating was the evidence of his dementia, which as he honestly and perhaps possibly for the first time in his life, stated in interviews was caused by alcoholism.

Mortality is being brought home to us every day right now. One person whose recovery from coronavirus was revealed recently was Sir Kenny Dalglish, who shares a birthday with me. It’s so random who will be struck down next, you just have to keep out of harm’s way as much as you can.

Racing is going on in a few selected areas around the world under strictly-controlled circumstances, and two people who have been delighted that Australia has kept going are William Haggas and Tom Marquand. On Saturday at Randwick, taking advantage of the retirement of Winx, winner of the previous three runnings, they stepped up to win the Queen Elizabeth Cup with Addeybb by almost three lengths from Verry Elleegant. The near £700,000 first prize will no doubt have been causing envious glances from their training and riding counterparts around the UK.

Addeybb was following up his victory in another Group 1 10-furong race at Rosehill last month when he beat Verry Elleegant by only half a length. Forty minutes before the Queen Elizabeth Cup, the pair teamed up with recent Australian Group 3 winner Young Rascal, the 19-10 favourite for the two-mile Sydney Cup. Young Rascal disappointed, finishing unplaced and well behind former stable-companion Raheen House, who was a close third a week after winning a 50k prep race over the same track.

I see from the now long list of owners that Lew Day, who originally bought the six-year-old as a yearling on the advice of Sam Sangster and his first trainer Brian Meehan, still has his name as part of the syndicate. I’m delighted that he will have picked up a few pounds, or rather Aussie dollars, from his now far-away involvement.

On the same card, another well-known name, Con Te Partira, a winner at Royal Ascot for the Wesley Ward stable in 2017, collected a big prize for mares, the Group 1 Coolmore Legacy Stakes. The daughter of Scat Daddy was winning her third race for the Gai Waterhouse stable and will be worth a fortune when she eventually goes to stud. What price Royal Ascot, even behind closed doors, this year?

 - TS

5.45 Wolverhampton : Bell Heather @ 5/1 BOG 2nd at 6/1 (Chased leaders, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on)

Saturday's pick runs in the...

6.30 Chelmsford :

Before I post the daily selection, just a quick reminder of how I operate the service. Generally, I'll identify and share the selection between 8.00am and 8.15am and I then add a more detailed write-up later within an hour or so of going "live".

Those happy to take the early price on trust can do so, whilst some might prefer to wait for my reasoning. As I fit the early service in around my family life, I can't give an exact timing on the posts, so I suggest you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for instant notifications of a published pick.

Who?

Victory Bond @ 5/2 BOG

...in a 5-runner, Class 2, A/W Handicap for 4yo+ over 1m2f on polytrack worth £12,291 to the winner...

Why?...

Here we have a 7 yr old gelding who has 4 wins from 14 on the A/W so far, including...

• 4/12 at 9.5-10 furlongs
• 4/10 at odds of 4/1 and shorter
• 3/11 on Polytrack
• 3/8 at Class 2
• 1/2 here at Chelmsford
• 1/2 over course and distance

He is trained by William Haggas, about whom there are quite a few relevant angles at play today. If I can get this to work (others here at Geegeez are far better than I at putting graphics up), then here are just three that will help us today...

1. For 82 winners from 229 runners (35.8% SR) and 50.7pts profit at an ROI of 22.2%, including 23/49 (46.9%) for 44.1pts (+89.9%) at Class 1/2...

2. Whilst he is 26 from 91 (28.6% SR) for 11.1pts (+12.2% ROI) under the following conditions, including 21/59 (35.6%) for 31.3pts (+53.1%) on the All-Weather...

3. And for 15 winners from 28 (53.6% SR) and 35.7pts profit at an ROI of 127.4%, we have...

...all of which directed me to...a 1pt win bet on Victory Bond @ 5/2 BOG as was widely available at 8.05am Saturday, but as always please check your BOG status. To see what your preferred bookie is quoting...

...click here for the betting on the 6.30 Chelmsford

Don't forget, we offer a full interactive racecard service every day!

REMINDER: THERE IS NO STAT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAYS

Here is today's racecard

P.S. all P/L returns quoted in the stats above are to Betfair SP, as I NEVER bet to ISP and neither should you. I always use BOG bookies for SotD, wherever possible, but I use BFSP for the stats as it is the nearest approximation I can give, so I actually expect to beat the returns I use to support my picks. If that's unclear, please ask!

4.15 Southwell : Cold Harbour @ 10/3 BOG WON at 3/1 (Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, kept on well towards finish)

Wednesday's pick runs in the...

5.45 Kempton :

Before I post the daily selection, just a quick reminder of how I operate the service. Generally, I'll identify and share the selection in the evening before the following day's race and I then add a detailed write-up later on that night/next morning.

Those happy to take the early price on trust can do so, whilst some might prefer to wait for my reasoning. As I fit the early service in around my family life, I can't give an exact timing on the posts, so I suggest you follow us on Twitter and/or Facebook for instant notifications of a published pick.

Who?

Qaseeda @ 5/2 BOG

...in a 9-runner, Class 5, A/W Handicap for 3yo over 7f  on Standard To Slow polytrack worth £3,752 to the winner...

Why?...

This 3 yr old filly is making just her fourth start today and her handicap debut having already made the frame twice including finishing third last time out almost ten weeks ago.

Her name kept cropping up when I was going through the various reports I use each evening to find my picks, so I'm just going to briefly touch upon three of the relevant angles for today.

We'll start with an obvious one, trainer William Haggas' record here at Kempton, where his A/W handicappers sent off at odds of 2/1 to 6/1 are 13 from 45 (28.9% SR) for 17.5pts (+38.9% ROI) over the last four years, from which those racing in 3yo races are 5/14 (35.7%) for 5.07pts (+36.2%).

Next we have Mr Haggas' A/W handicappers who have only had one outing in the previous three months and these runners are 12 from 33 (36.4% SR) for 15.9pts (+48.2% ROI)

And as this filly is making her handicap bow today, I'll round this off by saying that the yard's handicap debutants sent off at 2/1 or longer over the last three years are 31 from 138 (22.5% SR) for 49.1pts (+35.6% ROI), including the following of relevance/note today...

• 19/73 (26%) for 31.6pts (+43.3%) over 7f to 1m
• 19/56 (33.9%) for 65.2pts (+116.4%) at 26-120 days since last run
• 12/31 (38.7%) for 24.6pts (+79.5%) on the A/W
• 10/28 (35.7%) for 17.6pts (+62.8%) at Class 5
• 9/36 (25%) for 25.1pts (+69.7%) from those placed 2nd or 3rd LTO
• and 4/7 (57.1%) for 6.8pts (+97.2%) here at Kempton...

...whilst those racing over 7f-1m on the A/W at 26-120 dslr are 5 from 8 (62.5% SR) for 12.24pts (+153% ROI), a stat that also applies to Qaabil who runs for Mr Haagas in the 4.00 at Newcastle and is currently available at 7/2 BOG...

...but I've opted for...a 1pt win bet on Qaseeda @ 5/2 BOG as was available from Betfair, Paddy Power & Unibet (and also 11/4 at Hills, but please check your BOG status there first) at 8.10am on Wednesday. This is a little shorter than I normally post, but I think there might be a slight drift this morning if Adam Kirby's ride attracts money. To see what your preferred bookie is quoting...

...click here for the betting on the 5.45 Kempton

Don't forget, we offer a full interactive racecard service every day!

REMINDER: THERE IS NO STAT OF THE DAY ON SUNDAYS

Here is today's racecard

P.S. all P/L returns quoted in the stats above are to Betfair SP, as I NEVER bet to ISP and neither should you. I always use BOG bookies for SotD, wherever possible, but I use BFSP for the stats as it is the nearest approximation I can give, so I actually expect to beat the returns I use to support my picks. If that's unclear, please ask!