Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle shares her top ten horses to watch in the upcoming flat season. One notable mention is Richard Hannon's five-year-old, who has significantly improved since autumn, winning a valuable handicap at Ascot and the Listed Cammidge Stakes at Doncaster.
Doyle expects a smooth transition into Group company for this horse. Another promising horse is the lovely big son of New Bay, who gave Doyle a nice feel when scoring on debut at Chelmsford City. Despite his greenness, he was well in control in his 10f maiden and is expected to kick on. A three-year-old son of Caravaggio also made a belated debut performance in a Saint-Cloud newcomers race, toying with his opposition over 1m and looking like a star in the making.
Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett didn't go into the Group 1 Futurity Trophy as his stable's main fancy but made virtually all the running to stake his own Classic claims. William Haggas can find plenty of improvement in his son of Kingman, a half-brother to Group 1 star King Of Change. Doyle's husband Tom Marquand really likes a filly who partnered her to a debut win at Newbury and has a hefty price tag to live up to. Archie Watson's son of Havana Grey still felt a bit on the weak side when he finished down the field in the Coventry Stakes but has done well physically since.
Ed Walker's filly was much too classy for her rivals in a 6f Nottingham maiden and had a strong field well beaten when finishing close behind Zanthos in the Group 2 Rockfel. Doyle's boss Archie Watson has been patient with a son of Sea The Stars who made a spectacular winning debut for her at Newcastle. Karl Burke's son of Night Of Thunder made it four from four in the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket and is aiming for the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.