There is plenty of good racing this afternoon with the centre of attention being Ascot and the big betting race being the Victoria Cup, a handicap over seven furlongs. 

The ground will play a key role here with heavy rain expected all day and that will only benefit a handful of runners, among them Lovers Spirit, Bertiewhittle, Heaven’s Guest and Flyman.

The last named won nicely last time out over six furlongs but if the ground gets testing I am not so sure about seven here. 

The remaining three all have good course and distance form in similar races but Heaven’s Guest hasn’t run well this season on two outings.

Bertiewhittle is difficult to win with as he has to be delivered literally on the line but is a feasible player here as is Lovers Spirit. 

The last named has to come from off the pace and has been unlucky not to win one of these big prizes before and could go close with luck in running. 

But I am going to go out on a limb here and plump for Don’t Call Me  trained by Dandy Nicholls. Placed in two Listed races over a mile last year, the handicapper has begun to show some mercy and the seven-year-old is now down to a mark of 95 having been placed off 105.

His last run at Haydock was a disappointment but his previous run at Kempton was more than acceptable and if he repeats a cracking fourth in last year’s Royal Hunt Cup he should run a huge race at odds as big as 40/1.

The Listed Buckhounds Stakes at 2.40 looks a really tough renewal but it should be a really good test at the trip with Harris Tweed set to run from the front again. 

The seven-year-old has his ground, but this may be beyond him.

Cocktail Queen didn’t last the two miles in the Sagaro Stakes and this drop to a mile and a half and a fast pace should suit. 

However, the nod goes to Gatewood taken to reverse recent Doncaster form Area Fifty One after looking in need of the run.

The sprint handicap finale at 5.00 looks just as tough as the Victoria Cup but it may well be run on the softest ground of the day and that could see Commanche, an eye-catching sixth at Warwick last time out, go close. 

Others with sound each-way claims include Prince Regal, the lightly raced Intrinsic and Windsor second Kinglami.

Elsewhere, Intibaah has solid claims in the Haydock 3.00, while Teetotal (6.40 Thirsk) and the promising Self Defence in the Warwick 7.55.