THERE are some huge handicaps up for grabs this afternoon at Ayr and Newbury and weather conditions will determine to a degree where the big money goes and Cymro looks the pick in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap at the Berkshire track at 2.50.

Tom Dascombe’s charge has a hugely rounded action so connections will be hoping the ground stays on the soft side.

There is little doubt he is very much on an upward curve having won twice at Haydock over this distance on two of his last three starts.

On the other start, the three-year-old couldn’t handle either the undulations of Goodwood nor the quicker ground and that outing is best forgotten about.

A 5lbs penalty for his last win at the Lancashire track will certainly test his mettle and it goes without saying will require a career best effort. But he is certainly capable of making his mark in this big field.

There are plenty of dangers around including Top Tug (returns to his best trip), the improving Field of Fame and the rejuvenated What About Carlo.

Earlier on, Raucous is taken to outstay his rivals in the Mill Reef Stakes at 2.15, while Steps follows up his Portland Handicap success with a Group Three win in the Dubai International Airport World trophy at 3.25.

The Ayr Gold Cup at 3.45 looks another high-class renewal and of course we won’t have an idea as to the effect of the draw until the Silver Cup is run an hour earlier.

With drying conditions favourite Don’t Touch will have his work cut out to retain his unbeaten record after just scraping home in the Great St Wilfrid Handicap at Ripon last month.

Back on a quicker surface and back down to six furlongs I have taken a U-turn in the last week and had an each-way wager on Ninjago.

Richard Hannon’s charge will relish the drying ground and looks huge each-way value at 33/1 plus.

The likes of Blaine, Tanzeel and Golden Steps will also adore the ground and are big players, while th best remainder I think is Buckstay, an interesting runner for Peter Chapple-Hyam stepping down to six furlongs for the first time in his career.

In the evening I like the look of Longshadow in the 8.40 at Wolverhampton and in the final race on the card the lightly raced Jaiyana could be the answer to the class-six handicap over an extended seven furlongs.

Over at Newmarket I am sweet on the chance of Lawyer off top weight in the 2.40, while I think we have yet to see the best of Lugarno Palace in the Cesarewitch Trial at 3.50.