The Darley July Cup (Newmarket 3.50) is the headline act this weekend and the weather and going will play a pivotal part in proceedings and possibly hinder the chance of the Spanish rider Noozhoh Canarias and Aljamaaheer, both of which need fast ground to show their best form.

For me, the first named is the clear form selection on his 2,000 Guineas’ form, but he does need those optimum conditions to show that again and under the current conditions I have changed my original ante-post opinion because of the rain and plumped for Due Diligence.

A running on second to the Irish favourite Slade Power in the Diamond Jubilee, O’Brien’s charge loves to get his toe into the ground and it could turn out that seven furlongs is his optimum trip, an advantage at this stiff July course this afternoon.

With many of the leading protagonists requiring fast ground, last year’s Steward’s Cup winner, Rex Imperator, could run a mighty race after his King’s Stand Stakes blow-out. 

That day he raced way too freely and saw too much daylight and was a spent force a full quarter of a mile from home.

If he can settle in behind with change of jockey Jim Crowley on board — shame it’s not Neil Callan — then his rapid turn of foot could see him go very close to causing a major upset.

The Bunbury Cup, a notoriously tough handicap over seven furlongs at 3.15, looks an even tougher exercise for us punters to unravel and could finally see Loving Words land the big race he so richly deserves. 

The James Toller charge is only a pound higher than when second to Heaven’s Guest in a heritage handicap at Ascot last autumn and there may be enough dig in the ground to see him return to winning form here.

In contrast, Horsted Keynes, an unlucky second in the Buckingham Palace Stakes, may not have enough spring in the Newmarket turf for him, a remark that also applies to Ayaar. 

However, whatever the weather does it won’t affect Don’t Bother Me and I make him the biggest danger to the selection ahead of Royal Hunt Cup failure Abseil.

Over at York, it’s the 55th running of the John Smith’s Magnet Cup at 2.55 and with the ground likely to be on the fast side we should get a well-run race which will suit both Farraaj and Bold Sniper. 

The first named hosed up at Epsom last month but has to race off a mark of 111 and give 9lbs away to the selection. 

Sir Michael Stoute’s charge is a shade quirky but there was nothing wrong with the way he ran on into second place in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot and he gets the nod ahead of the likes of Tarikhi, Red Avenger and outsider Pacific Heights.

Elsewhere, Mabait looks handicapped to run a huge race in the opening contest (1.40) over a mile off a mark only 1lbs higher than for his last win, while York Glory (3.30), Barnet Fair (Ascot, 1.55) and Confessional (Chester, 4.00) are all worth a second look.