Tote Placepot picks: Jack Nicol's selections for Newmarket

Sandown was hit with a raft of non-runners last week following heavy rain but we managed to land the Placepot as the dividend returned £78.80 to a £1 stake.

Hopefully we can back it up again this week as we head to Newmarket for the final day of the July Festival, where the headline race is, of course, the Group One July Cup.

I've got a perm consisting of 48 lines to consider. Best of luck with whatever you're playing in Saturday's Placepot: 

- Selections: Desert Flower (4) and Duty First (5)

It is a tricky start to this weekend's Placepot as there is not much form to go on in the opening 7f fillies' maiden.

I'll happily take two selections to see us gain safe passage into leg two and will take the well-bred debutant, Duty First, as the main pick. She holds a fast and precocious profile and it must be noted that she's a half-sister to the talented pair, Army Ethos and Dynamic Force, both of whom won on their racecourse introduction. That bodes well for Archie Watson's charge here, with the filly passing through the ring for 370,000gns. Everything looks good on paper, hopefully she now delivers on the track.

Fellow debutant Desert Flower is taken in the two-pronged attack and she, too, is bred to be showing up early as a juvenile. The filly is a half-sister to Aablan, who won over this course-and-distance on debut last summer, and Charlie Appleby has won this race four times in the last seven years. She can be expected to be ready for this assignment first time up.

- Selections: Hard To Resist (3) and Rochelle (5) 

Hard To Resist was disappointing when finishing a well-beaten 22nd in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot last month, but that was her seasonal reappearance and she may well have found the ground too quick for her liking. I think she's worth another chance here, especially when you consider the races she was contesting last season.

The Dubawi filly was mixing it with Group One performers in Darnation and Tamfana, faring with credit in each start, and may just have a bit up her sleeve from a mark of 94. It's also notable that Ryan Moore (Moore and Buick share the same agent and the former would have had preference) has opted to ride her over stablemate Lou Lou's Gift.

Further down the betting, I'm happy to take a bit of a flier on Rochelle, another who finished down the field in the Sandringham last month. She had been so impressive when winning on stable debut at Kempton back in May and consolidated that on her penultimate run when fourth in a Listed race in France. Her Ascot performance was a bit of a non-event as she endured a trouble passage in-running and is much better than the bare form shows. She could be a bit of a differential pick here for Placepot purposes.

- Selections: Arabic Legend (1) and Qirat (4) 

Following the theme of running at Royal Ascot and coming onto here, Qirat is another who fits the bill and ran a very good race to finish sixth in the Britannia Stakes. He looked outpaced in the middle part of the race but finished off strongly and may be worth trying over further in time but he, too, may have just found the going too quick on the day. An easier surface here is sure to suit and generally remains progressive from a perch of 92 and it's hard to see him out of the frame here, especially with Moore taking over for the first time.

Arabic Legend created quite the impression when winning on debut at this meeting 12 months ago and he's of interest, particularly following a return to form when second at The Curragh last time. He's now winless in five starts since that aforementioned success last year but has been mixing it with proven Group One performers and is sure to find life easier now handicapping. He was only penalised with a 1lb rise for that Irish assignment last time and can hopefully remain competitive here for the Karl Burke team.

-Selection: Ancient Truth (1) 

I'm quite strong on Ancient Truth in the Group Two Superlative Stakes and he goes in as the sole selection.

He's unlikely to be another City Of Troy, winner of this race last year, but I've been very impressed with his two starts to date and the form of his debut victory looks particularly strong.

The Dubawi colt followed that up when winning over this course-and-distance under a penalty last time out and he seemed to relish the step up from six furlongs to seven. In time, he's sure to get a mile and possibly further but this race has been the logical target since and I think he can give Charlie Appleby a fifth win in the race from the past nine renewals.

-Selections: Awaal (1), Lethal Levi (9) and Gorak (10) 

We now have a bit of scope to take a few darts at the feature handicap on the card - the Bunbury Cup - and 20 runners are set to head to post.

The rain earlier in the week pointed me towards the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Awaal and despite conditions drying out in the meantime, I'm happy to lead with him as the main pick having finished third in this race last year from a 3lb higher mark.

Indeed, the five-year-old has been threatening to land one of these big handicaps since the beginning of last season and would have no concerns about him rocking up here on seasonal reappearance, as he's a horse who goes particularly well when fresh. Any further showers would be welcomed, though. 

Prominent racers have been feasting at Newmarket so far this week so I'm keen to look to those who will be on the speed throughout here. Awaal will certainly be up there but Lethal Levi will be one of those forcing the gallop and he's found a bit of improvement in blinkers on his last two outings. The five-year-old made all to score at Newbury in May and consolidated that with an excellent fourth in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot last month. He's clearly thriving at present and will have no problems stepping back up to seven furlongs.

Gorak completes the attack although I'm not sure a low draw is ideal here. However, the five-year-old has been sliding down the handicap and I think he is poised to strike from a mark of 96. He was a fading seventh from a rating of 105 in this last year but has looked in better form so far this season, particularly when finishing second at the Rowley Mile in May and I can see him improving on last year's effort for trainer Charlie Fellowes.

-Selections: (3) and Regional (6) 

A fitting finale in the Placepot as punters are tasked with solving the feature Group One July Cup over six furlongs.

I'm looking to take on the three-year-olds here. Inisherin is worthy of full respect but I don't think it was a vintage renewal of the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot and the value is with the older horses, particularly with big question marks hanging over Vandeek and River Tiber.

Kinross has been a grand performer at the top level over the past few years and I think he's sure to run his race again, especially with a recent reappearance at Newcastle under his belt. That was a good effort to boot with the seven-year-old hitting the front at Gosforth Park but was just collared late on into second. Ralph Beckett would have left him a little undercooked for that and I'm certain he'll be cherry ripe this time around. Effective over six and seven furlongs and versatile regards the ground, it would be great to see this versatile performer land another Group One.

Regional looks another solid play for Placepot purposes. He was second for this article at Royal Ascot last month and has now finished out of the frame just once in his last six outings. A repeat bid in the Group One Haydock Sprint Cup looks his ultimate aim this season but should be suited by this task, his first try at the July Course, and must be included for trainer Ed Bethell.