The first leg of the autumn double, the Cambridgeshire, is always a real mix of seasoned handicappers and up and coming improvers.

It goes without saying that you nearly always need a horse that is able to stay a mile and a quarter and because of the very nature of the undulating track, a well balanced individual to boot.

Last year those drawn high had a distinct advantage on fast ground, but by the same marker a soft surface would almost certainly favour those drawn on the low side.

The one horse I want to have on my betting portfolio is Absinthe. Walter Swinburn’s charge looks to have been campaigned with a view to all the autumn targets and it could be that this will be his last port of call in handicaps before taking in Pattern company.

His form bears the closest inspection having won two of his three starts this season culminating in a decisive success at Windsor from Urban Space under 10stone (mark of 83), having been eased down considerably in the closing stages.

This will obviously be another big step up in grade but he remains a lightly raced sort with more improvement to come and a mark of 92 still looks within his compass with the fast pace he needs to settle almost certain to come his way in this nine furlong cavalry charge.

Progressive is the banner under which the likes of Beachfire, Forte Dei Marmi and even likely top weight Cityscape come under as well.

The first named has relished the step up to a mile and a quarter of late and just got up in the last stride to deny Right Step at Goodwood and a 6lbs penalty is probably about right. But with only five runs under his belt there is surely more to come and granted his style of racing he could trade a lot bigger in running.

Forte Dei Marmi’s record this season is arguably better than it appears on paper as he patently doesn’t act at York (two below par displays there), but has since won a highly competitive 10 furlong handicap at Sandown, beating that watertight yardstick Hanoverian Baron by a comfortable neck.

He is set to run off a mark of 102 and connections will therefore be hoping that Cityscape (108) takes his chance.

The Roger Charlton trained runner has been unlucky not to wrap up three wins this season, looked particularly unlucky in the Newbury Spring Cup, but gained a deserved first win of the campaign when landing a Listed race at Haydock Park on Saturday.

Runner-up in the Royal Lodge as a juvenile, he promises to be suited by the extra furlong here.

Of course this preview only scratches the surface with such a huge entry, so we shall reassess the race in about a fortnight’s time.

Recommended bets – 1pt e/w Absinthe, ½ pt e/w both Beachfire and Forte Dei Marmi 

 • All prices correct at time of writing. 

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