FLYMETOTHESTARS looks a rock-solid pick in the Stobart Rail Northumberland Plate at Newcastle.

The race is now run on an artificial surface rather than grass, but that has not stopped the faithful in the north flocking to the track for the 'Pitmen's Derby' and nor has it diminished the competitive nature of the extended two-mile event.

There will be plenty hoping to fly to the stars if Sir Mark Prescott's charge can do the business and there looks to be every chance.

Lightly raced with just four career outings, he crucially seems to love the new track at Gosforth Park, winning his last two starts there.

The most recent of those came in May over the Plate trip and saw him account for the useful Endless Acres, who showed the form in an excellent light when second to Thomas Hobson at Royal Ascot last week.

The Prescott runner is open to any amount of improvement in these long-distance events and the Newmarket baronet is never too far away when he targets one at a race of this sort of nature.

Don't Touch gets the nod in the Betfred TV Chipchase Stakes.

The five-year-old has had to compete a high level since winning the 2015 Ayr Gold Cup, but has rarely disgraced himself.

He was less than two lengths behind last weekend's Diamond Jubilee hero The Tin Man in the Qipco British Champions Sprint last October and there was not much wrong with his comeback run in the Ballycorus Stakes in Ireland.

That effort should have blown away any cobwebs, while a return to six furlongs will suit.

He is also one from one on the all-weather, so Don't Touch has plenty going for him in this Group Three event.

Patience can pay off for Home Of The Brave when Hugo Palmer's five-year-old has his second run of the campaign in the Betway Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

The form of his seasonal debut looks very strong, as Tasleet, the horse he had back in second place when winning the Listed Richard III Stakes at Leicester for the second successive year in April, has gone on to claim the Duke of York Stakes and finished second in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot.

Home Of The Brave looks a proper seven-furlong horse. He wears his heart on his sleeve by usually making the pace and gamely trying to ward off all challengers.

A Group Three winner at his optimum distance, Home of The Brave has had plenty of time to get over his trip to America for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in November.

Midterm has yet to live up to expectations but the one-time leading Derby hope of 2016 can benefit from a drop in grade to take Listed honours in the Betway Fred Archer Stakes.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt stepped up on his comeback run at Newbury in April to finish third behind two Group One winners in Hawkbill and My Dream Boat at the same track last month and deserves another chance.

Dance Diva has looked a high-class prospect in winning each of her two starts to date and can take a step up in class within her stride in the Listed Betway Empress Fillies' Stakes.

A top-notch card at the Curragh is headlined by the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, in which Epsom hero Wings Of Eagles resumes rivalry with the third that day, Cracksman.

However, French raider Waldgeist is fancied to trump both for Gallic master Andre Fabre.

Aidan O'Brien dominates this race like pretty much every other Classic, but there is a general feeling the form of the three-year-old colts might be stronger across the Channel.

Waldgeist is absolutely bred to excel at a mile and a half and ran a fine race in defeat when a close second in the French Derby over 10 furlongs to a smart one in Brametot, who was completing a Classic double.

Like O'Brien, Fabre also knows what is required to win this race, having struck twice, most recently with Hurricane Run in 2005.

Wings Of Eagles did fly home at Epsom, but it is worth remembering he was sent on his way at 40-1 and whether he is as good as he looked is the big question.

SELECTIONS:

CHESTER: 1.45 Flourishing, 2.20 Queen In Waiting, 2.55 Vona, 3.25 Knockout Blow, 4.00 Hussar Ballad, 4.35 Normal Equilibrium, 5.10 Corpus Chorister.

DONCASTER: 5.55 Merdon Castle, 6.25 Model, 6.55 Ptarmigan Ridge, 7.25 Loving, 7.55 Art Obsession, 8.25 Maulesden May, 8.55 Old China.

LINGFIELD: 5.40 King Olav, 6.10 Josh The Plod, 6.40 Enola, 7.10 Zalshah, 7.40 Bookmaker, 8.10 Music Lesson, 8.40 The Big Short.

NEWCASTLE: 1.15 Amazour, 2.25 Don't Touch, 3.00 London Prize, 3.30 FLYMETOTHESTARS (NAP), 4.05 Airton, 4.45 Gerry The Glover, 5.15 Where's Jeff.

NEWMARKET: 2.05 Midterm, 2.40 Dance Diva, 3.15 Home Of The Brave, 3.50 Dukhan, 4.20 Melodic Motion, 4.55 Swiftsure, 5.30 Pavillon.

WINDSOR: 2.10 Grand Koonta, 2.45 African Friend, 3.20 Rebel Assault, 3.55 Stockhill Diva, 4.25 Here Comes When, 5.00 Passcode, 5.35 Justice Rock.

YORK: 1.55 Moseeb, 2.30 Fourth Way, 3.05 Appointed, 3.55 Fingal's Cave, 4.15 Spinnaka, 4.50 Fumbo Jumbo, 5.25 Sellingallthetime.

DOUBLE: Don't Touch and Flymetothestars.