Juvenile Watch: Ross Millar's tips for Newmarket on Saturday

Selection: Ancient Wisdom.

Much has been made in recent weeks about the relative lack of quality in the Godolphin juvenile ranks this season. There is, however, still time left for them to unearth a gem, and I think this strapping son of Dubawi might just be it.

I was disappointed that ANCIENT WISDOM could only finish third on his final start at Ascot in a Listed contest but, in hindsight, he probably faced an impossible task behind Rosallion on quick ground over seven furlongs, based upon how impressive the winner was in the Jean-Luc Lagardere on his last start.

The runner-up, Al Musmak, has since finished second in the Group Two Royal Lodge, too, so the form is unquestionably solid.

I am sure his absence from the track since July has been by design; he was a large and impressive physical specimen (as a price tag of 2 million euros would suggest!) and it would therefore stand to reason that his trainer Charlie Appleby would want to give him time to develop through the summer.

Godolphin have farmed this race in recents times, winning the past seven renewals (four of those by Appleby). I fully expect them to make it eight on Saturday.

Selection: Array (each-way).

Let’s hope that the rain and the potential for soft ground doesn’t deprive us of seeing the superb City Of Troy. He was a late non-runner in the Vincent O’Brien Stakes where connections deemed the ground too testing for a first run back after his mid-summer break. It will be bad news if all of the forecast rain arrives, as that would surely take the ground closer to soft than good.

If he does line-up, he’s very hard to oppose. His win in the Superlative Stakes was the most visually impressive performance of the season, and while that form is open to interpretation - runner-up Haatem landed the Group Two Vintage stakes but has since disappointed, while the third-placed Odyssey subsequently failed to land a moderate novice contest when a short-priced favourite - any form assessment is null and void such was his superiority over his rivals.

Iberian will have plenty of supporters given the aforementioned exploits of Rosallion, who he comfortably dispatched in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. However, I urge caution. The soft ground on Turf Moor significantly compromised Rosallion, while simultaneously aiding Iberian, and it’s not a form line that should be taken literally.

His tendency to race on the wrong lead around bends is also a concern for me. Sure, he only has to race in a straight line here, but this habit suggests to me that he’s not blessed with the most natural balance, and that can cause him an issue when trying to negotiate the dip.

Those not wanting to take a short price about City Of Troy could do worse than consider ARRAY at an each-way price (fingers crossed all eight declared run!). He impressed me with his tenacity and stamina when landing the Mill Reef over six furlongs and his relaxed style of racing gives him every chance of staying this trip, for all that his pedigree suggests he should be a sprinter.

He showed at Newbury that soft ground is of no concern to him and providing that big effort hasn’t left its mark, he can get closest to City Of Troy.

Godolphin will be hoping to finish the season with a flurry. Arabian Crown certainly sets a good standard and posted a career best on his first try at a mile last time, staying on powerfully to beat two solid colts in the shape of Arabic Legend and Son. I struggled to pin my hopes on one here, though.

Selection: Midnight Affair.

Inquisitively lines up here as the highest-rated contender, but the forecast overnight rain might just produce underfoot conditions that will compromise his chances (he was non-runner in The Flying Childers on account of soft ground).

Conversely, as a daughter of Dark Angel, Flora Of Bermuda will appreciate any rain that falls, and she arrives here in good form, but has been kept busy this season, and I just wonder whether those exertions might now tell.

I am going side MIDNIGHT AFFAIR, A a less exposed daughter of Dark Angel who was eye-catching on debut when finding a myriad of traffic problems behind Soprano over this course and distance.

She suffered no such issues next time out when comfortably accounting for Flora Of Bermuda at Beverley on her second start, and Richard Fahey has kept her away from the track since she finished down the field in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot where a slow start cost her all reasonable chance.

Arriving here a fresh filly can make the difference, and I fancy her to finish the season on a high.

Selection: Skellet.

I was impressed by SKELLET’s effort at Salisbury last time out. I’m convinced the runner-up in that race, Serene Seraph, is a useful filly and despite travelling powerfully, she had no answer to the power-packed finish Ralph Beckett’s daughter of Kingman was able to deliver.

It would appear I wasn’t the only one to be impressed as she’s since switched ownership, and will race here in the colours of Juddmonte. Soft ground would be an unknown but, given how powerfully she stayed at Salisbury, the extra stamina test that soft ground presents will suit her, if she acts on it.

Chic Colombine is, of course, worthy of a mention as a winner of her last four starts, but three of those victories came in handicaps, and her victory last time came out was in a restricted contest where she was favoured by the weight conditions. This is tougher assignment, too, and she’s another who has been kept busy this season.

Selection: Shuwari.

I thought that, despite tasting defeat for the first time, Olly Sangster’s filly, SHUWARI, emerged from the Rockfel Stakes with her reputation firmly in tact.

She always looked to be finding the pace ever so slightly hot on that quick ground, and was ultimately beaten by a smart filly who clearly thrived on the better going.

She made up plenty of ground in the final two furlongs and while I’m not a clock-watcher, I’d be surprised if she didn’t post the fastest closing sectionals.

The forecast rain and extra furlong here offer her a perfect set of conditions, and Tom Marquand is a more than capable replacement for Oisin Murphy.

The opposition doesn’t look all that deep. I struggle to see how Ylang Ylang can find the improvement to reverse the Rockfel form, and while Classical Song was impressive when last seen, she still has plenty to find to get to the level of Shuwari.

The only niggling concern I have with Shuwari is that she did change her legs a couple of times when navigating the notorious Rowley Mile dip last time,but I’m hoping that was on account of the ground, and not a dislike of the track. It’s a minor negative, and one I’m confident she’ll overcome.