Sandown Park takes centre stage this weekend with the Solario Stakes the main feature at 2.40 and Godolphin’s Future Empire is expected to land this Group Three event before being stepped up in class.

A son of New Approach, he landed his only career start to date in futile style when dismissing Invincible Gold by two and a half lengths, showing a nice turn of foot just inside the distance and readily lengthening clear.

This softer ground is of course an unknown, but with the drying weather forecast it is unlikely to be too deep and the selection is taken to see off the likes of Vintage Stakes fifth Pallister and Aktabantay. 

The last named has been given a short break to freshen up following a career best second of eight in the Superlative Stakes at Newmarket last month and is a serious rival. 

The Atalanta Stakes (3.15) has a strong roll call of previous winners which include the likes of Dank, Strawberrydaiquiri and last year’s heroine Integral. 

Fintry is a hugely interesting raider from France and Andre Fabre’s filly has looked very progressive, her best run coming last time out in the Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly. 

However, that success means she has to carry a penalty in this Group Three event and therefore give the weight away to her older rivals.

That challenge could prove beyond her and I prefer the claims of the progressive Water Hole. 

John Gosden’s charge is making her way steadily through the ranks and galloped her three rivals into the ground in a class three handicap at Newmarket last time out.

That level of success will tell you that she may have to improve at least  7lbs here to prevail but we know she is on the up, acts on testing ground and this stiffer track is perfect as well. 

The other factor is that Gosden has a really good line with his other three-year-old fillies at home and surely wouldn’t be running her here unless he thought the daughter of Oasis Dream has solid claims.

Elsewhere on the card, Tagula Night can make up for an unlucky run here two outings back when she finished strongly, but too late down the outside, when beaten  a shade over two lengths in eighth place. 

The veteran eight-year-old will need better luck in the 2.05 but granted a clear passage she can take care of Pearl Blue and Keep It Dark.

The big race at Beverley, the Bullet, may go to Pearl Secret, second in the Temple Stakes, before blowing out on faster ground at Royal Ascot. 

Rain would be a bonus, but if it stays dry then old Kingsgate Native would be a worthy substitute.

At Chester the ground will be appreciably slower which should help the likes of Confessional (2.20) and Albert Bridge (5.40), while the best bet on the two evening cards is Bondi Mist in the 7.45 at Bath.