Beverley, Epsom and Salisbury this afternoon

once again Salisbury hosts the best race of the day in the U.K. with the Group Three Sovereign Stakes over a mile at 17.15 CET: this has a very string field for a Group Three, headed by 7yo Pressing (Michael Jarvis/ Neil Callan), who has to carry a 5 lbs penalty for his Group One success in Múnich last year. This globetrotter, whose main aim is the valuable Istanbul race he has won for the past two years, is tough and reliable, but we cannot see him giving weight away to this opposition, which includes two Godolphin runners Secrecy (Frankie Dettori) and Poets Voice (Ted Durcan), Dream Eater (Andrew Balding/ Frannie Norton), 5th in the Sussex Stakes last time, and especially Pat Eddery´s Hearts of Fire (Richard Hughes), a winner in Baden-Baden last year and later Group One winner in Italy and whose three runs this season have been in the 2,000 Guineas, St.James´s Palace Stakes and the Prix Jean Prat. The really interesting in however is Mark Johnston´ s sensationally improved Sea Lord (Kieren Fallon), who has won five races since the end of May and now tackles group race company for the first time, having last time won Goodwood´s big mile handicap. His rating has gone up 29 lbs, but this is the toughest assignment he has ever faced.
Mark Johnston also has winning chances at the other two meetings this afternoon. He has two runners in the 2 mile handicap at 16.50 at Beverley, Keenes Day (Joe Fanning) and 3yo Rawnack (Silvestre de dousa). Keenes Day has a huge weight to shoulder, but is in fact quite well handicapped compared to his earlier form, and can concede the weight to his younger stable companion.
Johnston´ s candidate in the 7 furlongs handicap at 16.25 at Epsom is Golden Shaheen (Greg Fairley), an easy winner last time at Newcastle over 6. However he is drawn one, which is not always an advantage here, especially when the ground is soft. Woodcote Place and Hot Spark both come into the reckoning, but if the stands rail is favoured then Mishrif (John Jenkins/ Seb Sanders), drawn 11, could run well at a big price.

Betting forecast Salisbury:
1. Race: Classic Voice - Fastada - Catalyze
2. Race: Barq - Magic Jack - Warm Memories
3. Race: Goldtrek - Silent Act - Aktia
4. Race: Sea Lord - Hearts Of Fire - Dream Eater
5. Race: Russian Rave - Miss Firefly - Dualagi
6. Race: Lombok - Broughtons Point - Abulharith