Progressive Pinson, who was only supplemented early in the week, gets his chance to show what he can do against the big boys in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes over a mile and a quarter at Newmarket this afternoon.

The French-trained runner has gone from strength to strength this year and turned in easily his best effort to notch his fourth consecutive win in a Group 2 event over this trip at Deauville in August.

That six-length defeat of ultra-reliable French yardstick and stable companion Ruwi, who was short-headed by Touch Of Land in a Group 2 on Arc weekend, marks him down as potentially top-class and there is the prospect of more to come.

Unlike several in this race, he comes here a relatively fresh horse, having been rested since that Deauville race. At odds around 10-1 he makes considerably more appeal than the likes of Aidan O'Brien's Oratorio and Luca Cumani's Alkaased.

O'Brien has a very strong hand in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs with Horatio Nelson and George Washington but a chance at bigger odds is taken with Marcus Tregoning's unbeaten Sir Percy.

Following two wins on a sound surface, the juvenile turned in a much-improved effort when beating subsequent Mill Reef winner Cool Creek and a couple of other subsequent winners on soft ground at Glorious Goodwood in July.

That marked him down as one of the best of his generation and, given that he is also a fresh horse at this stage of the season and has room for further improvement, looks a solid option.

Polar Bear is another that loves cut in the ground and this in-form type is the strong fancy in the Lexus Day Darley Stakes over a mile and one furlong.

From the in-form William Haggas stable, the five-year-old is better than ever judged on recent evidence and ran a blinder when just touched off by previous winner Special Kaldoun at Longchamp last time.

Sir Michael Stoute can be on the mark with Arakan in the opening VC Bet Challenge Stakes over seven furlongs and can score with Short Skirt, the winner of her sole start, in the Owen Brown Rockfel Stakes over the same trip.

At Catterick, Richard Fahey's Whitethorne looks an interesting alternative to likely favourite Passion Fruit in the totesport 0800 221221 Handicap over her optimum trip of seven furlongs.

Unlike Chris Fairhurst's runner, she's a straightforward ride who should get a good tow from her low draw and she is certainly better than the bare form of her last run at Newcastle, when running out of room.

Malapropism can win the totesport.com Catterick Dash over the minimum trip for the second year in succession after shaping better than of late at Epsom on his most recent start.

Stoute has a good record at Catterick with his few runners in recent times and his Mutamarres, a gutsy Chester winner last time, is the choice in the totescoop6 Nursery over seven furlongs.

At Huntingdon, Peter Bowen can be on the mark with Celtic Boy in the williamhillpoker.com Handicap over three miles and with Genghis in the Play Blackjack At williamhillcasino.com Hurdle over two miles.

Masafi makes his eagerly-awaited hurdles debut and first start for Howard Johnson and is the fancy in the Play Roulette At williamhillcasino.com Novices Hurdle.

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