Mutakayyef et al: a round-up of the pick of the racing from around Britain

Queen Anne Stakes runner-up Mutakayyef returns to the scene of his biggest win yet, also at Ascot but this time on the round mile.

Twelve months ago in the Fred Cowley MBE Summer Mile (3.50) Dane O'Neill steered the William Haggas-trained five-year-old to a stylish defeat of Dutch Connection and Gabrial. There's no Dutch Connection to contend with this time, but more to the point there's no Ribchester, so hence Mutakayyef's cramped odds.

Haggas, who also runs Hathal in the race, said: "I hope the ground dries up for Mutakkayef, as the quicker it dries the better his chance will be. He's in really good form. Hathal is ready to run. He's a stuffy horse so will need the run but he's very genuine."

Veteran Gabrial tries again, but on recent form he will struggle to beat Sovereign Debt, who has been his nemesis in two Group races this year. Sovereign Debt has a 3lb penalty but has thrived for his new trainer Ruth Carr.

Carr said: "He's still in good form, and although it will be harder for him giving the penalty to the favourite I'm sure he'll give it his all again. We head down south with hope in our hearts."

A strong supporting card at Ascot also features the £50,000 Woodford Reserve Handicap (5.00), which features a clutch of progressive three-year-olds and the Playboy Club London Handicap (2.40), in which Laarib, who took the scalp of Atty Persse when last seen, bids to make it three from three.

YORK

Barsanti registered a clear career-best when pressing Idaho hard through the closing stages of the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot three weeks ago, and the step up in company in the much weaker John Smith's Silver Cup (2.30), on a track he likes, ought to make him hard to beat.

Roger Varian said: "Barsanti finished second last year, but his Hardwicke form suggests he's an improved horse now and this looks a nice spot to try to make him a stakes winner. The course clearly suits and hopefully they won’t get too many showers in the morning as he enjoys top of the ground."

Barsanti (yellow) has already beaten Mirage Dancer this season at Ascot in MayCredit: Mark Cranham

Rare Rhythm was one of the most impressive handicap winners of the week in the Duke of Edinburgh at the same meeting and could prove his toughest opponent, although Yorkshire Cup third High Jinx also has possibilities.

Tim Easterby took High Jinx out at Sandown last weekend owing to the very quick ground, but said: "We're looking at the Goodwood Cup for him and he's in great form."

Good wins from Magical Memory and Battaash last weekend confirm Charlie Hills has his sprinters in tip-top form, and he is hopeful Cotai Glory, another of his speedballs, can keep the run going in the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes (4.15).

He said: "He was much more like his old self in the King’s Stand Stakes. He ran a cracker in fourth at York in last year’s Nunthorpe, and he was third in this race in 2015."

CHESTER

Last month's Criterion Stakes runner-up Jungle Cat, who is blinkered for the first time, is the form pick in Chester's SportingBet City Plate (3.00), but he is no certainty, despite dropping from Group 3 to Listed company with Chester specialist Franny Norton in the saddle.

He faces some smart opponents, including Kool Kompany and Jallota, both of whom have bragging rights over him in that they are Group winners – Kool Kompany three times.

Jungle Cat and William Buick win easily under the lights at Meydan in February 16Credit: Francois Nel

They were last seen finishing down the field in Royal Ascot's Queen Anne Stakes, but they are better than that.

Charlie Hills describes it as "a good opportunity for Jallota if he’s on his A-game," while Richard Hannon said: "This is a better race for Kool Kompany than Ascot, and Chester might well suit him. He's in good form."

The supporting card is largely handicaps, but there is good prize-money, as usual, and the races have been well supported.

A wide draw has not helped The Wagon Wheel in the MBNA Make Good Stuff Happen Fillies' Handicap (2.25), but for which Richard Fahey would have been quite sweet on her chance.

Ralph Beckett bids to win the Manor Car Hire Handicap (3.35) for the second year running, this time with course winner and topweight Here And Now.

HAMILTON

Derby-winning jockey turned trainer Joseph O'Brien sends his first runners to Scotland when a team of five descend on Hamilton.

O'Brien said: "It's difficult enough to find suitable opportunities for some horses and that's why we've sent a team of five over. They all seem in good form and we're hoping they go well.

"Ligeti goes in the main race – the Daily Record Handicap [7.35] – and, hopefully, he'll run well. Spirit Power, who runs in the two-year-race [6.05], had good form early in the season and we're hoping for a good run from him."

O'Brien, who runs Intricately in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday evening, also has Detailed in the 8.05, Pronounced in the 8.35 and Sweetasever in the 9.05.

Hamilton's racing manager Sulekha Varma said: “We regularly attract runners from leading yards across Great Britain and Ireland and hosting Joseph O’Brien’s first Scottish runners is a feather in the cap of Hamilton Park racecourse.”

SALISBURY

There is also evening racing at Salisbury, where the best is saved for last.

The British Stallion Studs EBF 'Ladies Evening' Handicap (8.50) features an attractive field of fillies, including Richard Hannon's Billesdon Bess, who was a good winner of a similar race over the course and distance last month.