With the rain lashing down over the majority of the Country this has to be one of the most disappointing Saturdays for racing I can remember in many a month. Those forecasting a late summer look like they may have missed the boat.

All the main meetings have been abandoned today headed by Leopardstown and Haydock, but Thirsk and Stratford have followed suit and all we have left are Kempton and Wolverhampton on the dirt.

I can pass on a mention for the Sir Michael Stoute trained Standpoint who starts his racing career in the 4.00. A son of Oasis Dream he is choicely bred and working nicely at home, certainly a name for the future, though like all the stable juveniles he may well need the experience this afternoon before opening his account.   

In the 2.50 at Kempton I shall be backing Galactic Star. Make no mistake, this is the class horse in this race as he showed on his seasonal debut when third to Getaway in the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket. Eighth but not beaten far by Doctor Dino at Chantilly next time out, that run can be forgiven as he hated the softer ground and was eased when beaten but he came back to form last time out when a slightly unlucky second to Sixties Icon at Goodwood when closing near the line after being left with a lot to do.

Connections feel he is at least Group Two standard on his day and he recently sidestepped a race in France to come here so the hint should be taken. Even better than his bare form, I am told he has really come to himself recently at home and is working out of his skin on the Newmarket gallops in which case he is certainly NAP material at 4/1 this afternoon.

The 4.30 at Kempton is a very tricky sixteen runner handicap and I shall be have a small interest in Ethaara. There is every reason to believe this lightly raced filly could have been let in lightly off a mark of 77 for her handicap debut.

She was strongly fancied on her first run at Salisbury but had not read the script and finished a disappointing fifth when sent off favourite and the smell of burnt fingers filled the Wiltshire air. Losses were duly recouped next time out at Great Leighs when she ran on well over six furlongs to see off Anne Of Kiev, with the rest of the field over twenty lengths behind the front two.

With the step up to seven furlongs likely to suit and more improvement almost guaranteed she must have a favourites chance here but this is only her third race and in a sixteen runner field, so only a small interest will suffice today.