PLOTTING big-money coups in valuable races such as Haydock's Old Newton Cup has long been one of Luca Cumani's trademarks, a point worth noting given the presence of Futun in the field.

With a first prize in excess of £52,000, easily top-dollar on a busy day up and down the land, Futun's 2006 course-and-distance success proves his ability to handle the track.

Cumani's four-year-old started this season operating off a backbreaking 99, but having endured four straight defeats his current mark of 94 looks much more competitive.

The canny Cumani knows how to work the system to his advantage, running Futun on either unsuitable ground or an inadequate trip to date, thus producing the fall in the weights.

Only now is the selection able to perform over his optimum distance and preferred fast ground, which combined will hopefully make for a winning formula in the mile-and-half showpiece.

The superb seven-race meeting kicks off with the Commholst Handicap, a tight-knit eight-furlong affair in which Nevada Desert (1.25) tries to make it three wins from his last four outings.

Not many seven-year-olds suddenly make exponential improvement, however that's the case for Richard Whitaker's raider, who posted a career best at Thirsk last weekend.

Neil Callan, who can do little wrong at the moment, has the necessary high draw in stall 13 to aid and abet High Curragh's (3.45) standout chance to boot the nap home in the Logistics Handicap.

Mark Johnston has lined up two of his stable-stars for the Group 3 Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, Zaham (2.35) and Hearthstead Maison.

Having napped Hearthstead Maison at Goodwood, only for him to run a stinker, it'll be Sod's law if he returns in a totally different frame of mind to see off the selection, Royal Ascot hero Zaham.

Zaham probably required the 51-day break he's been given following the bruising battle which led to his narrow Royal victory in Listed company.

Although Hamdan Al Maktoum's colt needs to step up on that brave effort if he's to account for the Godolphin duo, Formal Decree and Blue Ksar, the available evidence suggests the job can be done.

Twenty minutes later, Johnston has a chance of completing a quick-fire across-the-card double via Golden Quest (2.55) in Ascot's Shergar Cup.

During a highly-productive 2005 season, Golden Quest was steadily climbing towards the top of the stayers' tree until his march was cruelly halted by a serious leg injury.

Despite having taken an age for the flashy chestnut to heal properly, finally the talented six-year-old does seem to be on the verge of resuming his winning ways.

Should the Cup go down to the wire, Ace Of Hearts (4.05) might play a crucial part in the result of the revised format between teams representing Great Britain, Europe, Ireland, and the Rest Of The World.

Once rated 105, Ace Of Hearts ended a two-year spell in the wilderness with a clear-cut success on the closing day of Glorious Goodwood.

Chis Wall's back-to-form gelding is theoretically still one step ahead of the handicapper and might well continue to make hay while the sun shines.

Newmarket is the place to go for ante-post backers seeking clues to the possible outcome of next year's 1,000 Guineas.

The contest to which I refer is the seven-furlong Group 3 Sweet Solara Stakes, showcasing a whole host of beautifully-bred and potentially top-class young fillies.

Purchase price is not always an accurate guide but the 270,000 guineas coughed up by the connections of Queen Scarlet (3.25) was not misplaced, judged by her impressive track-and-trip debut.

Brian Meehan's two-year-old, who is related to the Group 1 scorer Nanina, showed no signs of inexperience when brushing aside 17 rivals to collect at the first time of asking.

Ayr's evening fixture has attracted plenty of fancied raiders from our region, none more so than Mozakhraf (7.20), bidding for a three-timer in the Mouchel Parkman Handicap.

The Scottish air clearly suits the Kevin Ryan-trained speedster, triumphant at Hamilton prior to a successful switch to Wolverhampton's man-made polytrack.

Confidence is of paramount importance to sprinters so while Mozakhraf is on the crest of a wave it doesn't make any sense to oppose him.