With the persistent rain in the Newmarket area yesterday it now seems unlikely that Marcus Tregoning will let the current Guineas favourite Nayef, who looked to hold outstanding claims, take his chance in today's Macau Jockey Club Craven Stakes.

Tregoning said late yesterday afternoon: "It is now proper soft ground at Newmarket. I know he won on it last year but this is his first run of the season and I don't think you want to do it. I think you are better off to skip it than risk a big race."

If Nayef sidesteps this engagement, the selection would be Henry Cecil's Painted Room, who showed a good deal of ability in two runs in decent maiden company over this course and distance last season.

This highly-regarded colt did extremely well on his debut when second to Richard Hannon's Tamburlaine, who had previously run Tregoning's stable star to a neck at Newbury over the mile trip.

Cecil's son of Woodman also showed he handled soft ground when second in a field of 29 to Terrestrial just over a fortnight later. Although he has yet to prove himself outside of maiden company, he has the size and scope to go on to better things and is sure to give a good account of himself.

The Newmarket trainer can also be on the mark with Autumn Rhythm, currently clear favourite for the Oaks at Epsom on June 8. She can enhance her Classic prospects with a win in the Feilden Stakes over a mile and one furlong.

Henry Cecil's daughter of Hernando was most impressive when bolting up on her only outing last year at Yarmouth on heavy ground over a mile.

The filly, who again wears a tongue strap, is another who is open to abnormal improvement and, as she shows a pronounced knee action, the ground today should be ideal for her.

John Dunlop is always a trainer to have on your side when it comes to unexposed three-year-old handicappers and his Villa Carlotta makes plenty of appeal in the Swaffham Handicap over a mile and a quarter.

The daughter of Rainbow Quest qualified for a handicap mark courtesy of three runs over seven furlongs as a juvenile and she really caught the eye on the last of those outings at this course when a strong-finishing third to Good Standing.

The extra three furlongs of this contest is sure to be in her favour and she's preferred to Marshal Bond, who is on a hat-trick but up in grade following wins at Musselburgh and over this trip at Brighton.

At Ripon's first meeting of the year Dunlop has prospects of a three-timer with Rosie in the mile and a half handicap and with Medraar and Haasil in divisions one and two respectively of the Skelton Maiden over a mile.

Rosie wasn't disgraced in three runs at two years but she is bred to come into her own over middle distances and a rating of 72 for her handicap debut looks a reasonable one.

Haasil is the form pick in his division of the maiden and Medraar is open to improvement and can beat some modest rivals in the 4.25.

High numbers usually fare best in big fields over the sprint course at Ripon when the ground is soft and Corblets, who is drawn 18 and who handles soft ground, is fancied in the five-furlong apprentice handicap.

The filly showed fair form for Simon Dow without getting her head in front where it matters, but she is a fair bit lower in the weights than at this time last year and is worth an interest at a decent price on her first outing for John Quinn.

l Dudleys Delight pleased the bookmakers too as she floored some better fancied runners on her debut at Newmarket today.

But she should leave punters smiling in the coming months as further victories look sure to come her way