I have never had too much time for people that say there is too much racing, and that the racecourses wield too much power.
It's all about market forces, and if the courses can put on meetings that get the customers through the gates - and stump up the prize money to attract the horses to contest the races - then who is anyone else to complain?
But on "saturation Saturdays" like this, you have to think that the racecourses are the only winners.
I wouldn't have thought the main parties effectively responsible for the funding of the sport - i.e. bookmakers and punters - are particularly well served from having Newmarket, Ascot, Chester and York all racing on the same afternoon, with good races clashing throughout the day.
Thank god for 48-hour declarations though, as that at least gives punters with the odd day on their hands time to do their homework.
Newmarket, 14:05
So, let's start with Newmarket, and Makafeh in the 14:05. Back him at 7.06/1 or better.
He bumped into a big improver when second to Intrigo at Doncaster last time, and did well to run him to a length. Arguably too well, as the handicapper has stuck him up 4lb as a result.
He showed a smart turn of foot to take it up at the furlong pole at Doncaster and looked the likely winner - he traded at 1.331/3 in running - but was just squeezed out close home. Expect Frankie to deliver that burst later today.
Newmarket, 15:15
Es Que Love will be suited by the return to 7f and he rates a decent bet at around 14.013/1 and bigger in the 15:15 at Newmarket.
He is in rude health at the moment and ran another cracking race when just touched off by Prince Of Johanne over 1m at Sandown last week.
He got picked up late there, so the return to 7f is very much in his favour. Despite being beaten, he has traded short in-running on three of his last four starts - odds of 1.3130/100, 3.02/1 and 1.141/7 - so I would advise some in-play lay insurance at around the 3.02/1 mark.
Who knows whether being drawn 19 of 20 is a positive or negative, but everything else is in place for him to run a big race today. The trip is ideal, fast ground isn't a problem, he has gone well at this track in the past and he is fairly handicapped off a 2lb higher mark than at Sandown.
York, 14:55
I would take Lethal Force and Hamza against the field in the July Cup, but for our next bet I will go over to York in the 14:55, and Stencive. Odds of 7.413/2 and bigger look fair to me.
We were with him when he was second in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot. And for one moment it looked as if he was going to oblige.
But the running he had to do from his wide draw in 20 finally took its toll late on. The stable are convinced he has a big prize in him and, even off a 4lb higher mark than at Ascot, I have to stay loyal to him.
I am not concerned about the step down in trip, but I have to hope that his draw in 21 doesn't prove too much of a negative. I am sure there will be plenty of punters rowing in with Educate again after his luckless run at Ascot, and he could rate the main danger along with the progressive Niceofyoutotellme.
Ascot, 14:30
I toyed with tipping up Ancient Cross in the opener at Ascot, but for my fourth and final bet of the day I will side with Premio Loco in the Summer Mile at 14:30.
Premio Loco is now nine but you can make a fair case for him having posted a career-best effort in finishing second to Belgian Bill in the Hunt Cup off a mark of 109 here last time.
That is Group 2 form in all but name but he is a proven winner in this grade. Indeed he won this race three years ago and more recently beat Thistle Bird, Aljamaheer, Chachamidee and Trumpet Major in the Celebration Stakes at Goodwood last year.
At odds of around 8.07/1 or bigger, he is definitely worth one last hurrah in this company.
Recommended Bets
Back Makafeh at 7.06/1 or bigger in the 14:05 at Newmarket
Back Es Que Love at 14.013/1 or bigger in the 15:15 at Newmarket
Back Stencive at 7.413/2 or bigger in the 14:55 at York
Back Premio Loco at 8.07/1 or bigger in th 14:30 at Ascot