Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle is set to compete at Newmarket's Craven meeting, with a notable ride on Derby prospect Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. This week, I'll be riding my boss Archie Watson's exciting colt Wareeth, who is my standout mount at the Craven Meeting, in the Listed Feilden Stakes. The extra distance will suit the son of Sea The Stars, who faces a significant class jump after winning his novice event over 1m at Newcastle by an impressive 14 lengths last month.
Although he doesn't have a Derby entry, we've been pleased with Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's colt since his racecourse debut. I had the opportunity to ride him last week and he felt good, but we'll learn more after this second start.
Aidan O'Brien's Isaac Newton has an experience edge, having won his maiden at Goodwood and finishing fourth in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. He holds a Derby entry and boasts an official rating of 106, setting the standard. Like Wareeth, Godolphin's Poseidon's Warrior transitions from novice company after winning over this distance at Goodwood and is also entered in the Classic. Notably, all three colts are entered in the traditional Derby trial, the Group 2 Dante at York next month.
I'm expecting a strong performance from Heather Main's sprinter Zoulou Chief in the Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap on Wednesday, as he ran a great race for me at Newmarket in the autumn. Having been active on the All-Weather over the winter, winning at Wolverhampton and giving a good battle to Completely Random at Lingfield Park, he's approaching his prime as a five-year-old. I've had the chance to ride Jane Chapple-Hyam's outsider Harlequin Breeze and believe she's worth her place in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on Wednesday.
Despite likely odds, this tough daughter of New Bay brings promising form into this Betfred 1000 Guineas trial, having gotten within a neck of William Haggas's well-regarded Zooming. Harlequin Breeze is still a maiden after three starts but has improved with each run and impressed me with her determination over course and distance.
Impossible Mission needs to demonstrate his ability on turf, receiving weight from all his rivals in the National Stud Handicap on Wednesday. John Butler's three-year-old made a winning handicap debut under Neil Callan at Wolverhampton and should have progressed from his reappearance. Meanwhile, Des Donovan's debutant Lady Fizz will gain experience in the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, taking on fillies from prominent yards over 1m, which may be a minimum trip for her. I'm looking forward to riding Marco Botti's Shergar Cup winner Prince Of India in the Zyn Abernant Stakes on Thursday.
Having sat on him on the gallops last year, I liked him, and he's a powerfully built colt who could be a force in stakes sprints. The race appears wide-open, but he should be ready after a creditable comeback in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton.
I have high expectations for Hawk Mountain this year, so I'll be disappointed if he doesn't make a winning return in the Group 3 Betway Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday. Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett is already a Group 1 winner and can strengthen his Derby claims. Another favorite of mine, Karl Burke's Boiling Point, returns to turf in the Group 3 Betway Earl Of Sefton Stakes on Wednesday, and with that run under his belt, can establish himself as a genuine Pattern performer this season.