Newmarket Placepot tips: Richard Birch with his selections for a cracking card

Kick off the Newmarket Placepot by focusing on Magical Land and Lexington Knight in leg one (1.00).

Magical Land’s form in maidens last summer makes him the pick of the eight runners, but Lexington Knight is unlikely to be far away if building on his encouraging Doncaster debut.

The market will provide the best clues for leg two (1.35), which contains eight unraced two-year-olds. Caturra and Magic Warrior look likely types.

Duke Of Mantua, likely to strip fitter for a run in a Curragh handicap last month, holds an entry in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, and rates banker material in leg three (2.10).

A fascinating leg four (2.45) features a clutch of older handicappers who should win plenty of races this season.

Roger Charlton’s lightly raced Makram is arguably the best prospect, with Maxi Boy worthy of great respect too.

Youth Spirit, a winner at Newmarket last July ahead of his excellent third in Goodwood’s Group 2 Vintage Stakes, may have more scope for improvement than New Treasure in leg five (3.20).

Eton College stands out in the final leg (3.55), with his biggest rival likely to be course winner Eastern World.