PUNTERS prepared to chance their arm might like to row in with Karen's Caper (3.05) for the feature event on day one of Newmarket's July meeting, the one-mile Falmouth Stakes.

Although last year's winner, Soviet Song, has been chalked up at around 15-8 favourite to repeat her success in the £200,000 Group 1 showpiece, she didn't exactly sparkle on her Royal Ascot at York return behind two of this afternoon's rivals, Peeress and Sundrop.

By my reckoning, all three of those last-named fillies require fast ground to show their best, whereas Karen's Caper is open to improvement now that for the first time in her career she runs on a surface with a healthy injection of juice.

John Gosden's filly followed her excellent effort when fourth in the 1000 Guineas by an even better short-head defeat at the hands of top-notcher, Maids Causeway, in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes.

Karen's Caper battled all the way to line on the Knavesmire, and with a 9lb concession now kicking in against the older horses, she's looks the value bet at odds of 13-2 or better.

Jools, who did us a major favour when landing an 11-2 winning Windsor nap, comes to the opening £20,000 RBS Handicap in absolutely spanking fettle.

Despite having to shoulder a 6lb penalty, Jools remains a feasible betting proposition on the evidence of his overall weight profile. He's a very keen individual and thankfully rider Richard Quinn knows it's imperative to get him settled and in a nice early rhythm.

Once this initial aim has been achieved, Jools, who possesses plenty of gears plus stays a stiff mile extremely efficiently, should not be wanting for speed as the race unfolds in earnest over the final couple of furlongs.

Pontefract is the venue for the inaugural two-year-old handicap of the season, the Diane Nursery over six furlongs.

Backing top-weights in such events is a tried-and-tested formula, a system that points directly to the prospects of More Time (2.15). Mick Quinlan's juvenile did little wrong when second to King Malachi at Brighton, a reproduction of which looks sure to put him bang in the firing line.

The six-furlong King Richard III is a near impossible sprint to approach with any confidence, so Pieter Brueghel (3.20) is only a tentative selection. He burst out of the stalls at Newcastle on his latest start, maintaining an advantage at the head of affairs until cruelly cut down by Rising Shadow with only inches to go.

Analysis of the composite outcome of that particular contest reveals it was a solid yardstick upon which to suss out future scorers, the sixth home for instance, Inter Vision, has since won twice.

It's not certain as to whether the David Nicholls-trained gelding can reproduce a similar level of ability on this more testing track, however he's got a decent draw in gate seven and as a consequence is well placed to adopt his customary forcing tactics.

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