A 40/1 winner was just what the doctor ordered for yours truly in Thursday's Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket, as Magical Romance sprang a surprise in the two-year-old fillies event, easily beating the previously undefeated Irish challenger Damson.

The big race winner was virtually friendless in the market with the biggest winning bet setting me back just £4,000 to a Hindley punter, as they smashed into Damson at even money and "tips-on" 10/11.

The three day Cambridgeshire meeting at racing's HQ is one I never miss, and the opener was a blinder for the book with some big price winners taking advantage of the rain softened ground. The only blot on my day was laying a few quid to a mate of mine who managed to back the opening winner Tungsten Strike at 22/1 in a £20 double, alongside 3/1 shot Diktatorial later on the card: the end result at 91/1 payout.

Friday afternoon's Middle Park Stakes is the race everyone's talking about, and I've got a suspicion it could be another favourite getting turned over, with fast ground specialist Iceman set to go off favourite in the Group 1 contest. He won Royal Ascot's Coventry Stakes on his favoured quick surface, but could find this tougher I suspect.

There's a big field of 35 declared for Saturday's Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, and the one they all want to back is handicap specialist Sir Mark Prescott's Pedrillo. He won the race last year with Chivalry and punters fancy him to repeat the trick with the recent Hamilton winner.

As long as I'm not completely skint after three days on the Rowley Mile then it's off to Paris on Sunday morning, for the Arc de Triomphe, at Longchamp. There were 21 horses left in at Thursday's declaration stage, and it'll be croissants on me if Derby winner North Light gets turned over.

Punters the length and the breadth of the nation had a night out on me after he beat Rule Of Law at Epsom, and the money's been pouring in for the Sir Michael Stoute inmate all week, to do it all again.

It's not often I miss a weekend of football, and it's Bolton who've been backed for an away win at West Brom Saturday afternoon in the live game. They're 7/5 on the coupon, and my odds man tells me it's a price that's been well backed as punters clearly believe Big Sam's men have the firepower to shoot down the Baggies.

Of the other local sides United will be popular with multiples punters at 4/9 against Middlesbrough, whilst City also look to have a decent chance at 7/4 away at Southampton.

I've also priced up a weekend special around which match will have the most goals from a choice of five, with West Brom v Bolton a 4/1 poke, behind 15/8 jollies Arsenal at home to Charlton.