Martin Dixon's Saturday selections: Sol to shine

From only five all-weather starts Sol Cayo has gained both career wins plus a couple of good runner-up efforts and I think there's plenty more to come on synthetic surfaces from this lightly-raced five-year-old.

He won with authority over this C&D last time and, with subsequent winner Phone Tag easily left behind in third that day, the form looks strong and a 7lb rise still only leaves him on the same mark of 82 that he defied for his first career win in November 2022.

Although this race has a few others in that arrive in form I'll be a little disappointed if he isn't capable of following up and rate Sol Cayo my best bet of the day.

When you make a challenge towards the far side of the pack up the straight at Southwell it's generally not the place to be and Imola was rather marooned there on her stable debut for Lawrence Mullaney last month.

Nevertheless, she ran a creditable race, keeping on steadily over an inadequate six-furlong trip behind the very progressive Havana Sky (winner again since), and I think it could be generous that she's dropped a further 2lb in the weights. Going back up to seven furlongs is a definite plus, as is stall one, and I'll be looking to have a decent each-way bet with odds of 16/1 pretty widely available at the time of writing.

Diamatiste was unlucky to bump into another improver in Martalite when the pair had a sustained battle up the straight at Exeter last time, pulling 18 lengths clear of the third, and I liked the enthusiasm with which he travelled through the race and the attitude he showed in defeat.

He's up 5lb for that latest effort but JoshNewman is able to claim that allowance here (he didn't in the amateurs' race last time) and I'm hoping the stamina he showed in sticking to his task over a slightly longer trip last time will be an asset on ground that will be very hard work. 

Through the summer Apiarist proved frustrating and the jury was out as to whether he'd ever fulfil the promise of his 2-y-o season but switching to All-weather the last twice has suited his strong-travelling style perfectly and I'd be surprised if he couldn't rate quite a bit higher on synthetics. 

A steadily-run affair didn't get to the bottom of him last time but he still ran a blinder in defeat and this looks set to be a much higher-tempo race which will really play to his strengths, while from stall two Tom Eaves will hopefully get a smooth passage round.