This Saturday promises to be an exciting day of racing, with my boss Archie Watson sending two promising young horses to Thirsk, where I will be riding them. First up is our two-year-old NIEWIADOMA, a lovely daughter of Cotai Glory, who makes her highly anticipated debut in the British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes.

I've had the pleasure of riding her several times in preparation and am thoroughly impressed with her natural speed and attitude. With five rivals making their debut, it's challenging to gauge the competition, including Karl Burke's daughter of Blue Point, Bai Tong, who was purchased for 125,000gns. Later in the day, I'll be reunited with MERLIER in the Stirrup Bar For Deli-Style Dinning Packages Handicap. Having won a five-furlong maiden at Newcastle and following up at Wolverhampton, he's earned an opening rating of 85, which seems reasonable.

However, this will be his first handicap and he'll face proven sprinters, including those with turf experience, which will be a new challenge for him. Now that WARM SPELL has been eased to a career-low mark, I anticipate him performing well in division one of the Join Racing TV Today Handicap. He's shown promising form in defeat for Mark Loughnane and previously ran in a Listed race won by Dancing Gemini as a two-year-old.

With placed efforts over seven furlongs at Sandown and Kempton Park last autumn, he's entitled to be in the mix for this seasonal debut, and his close second on last year's return to action demonstrates he can perform well fresh. I'm looking forward to riding for veteran northern trainer Wilf Storey, who supported me during my early days as an apprentice. I'll be on his course and distance winner IDYLLIC in the Happy 21st Birthday Lily Watkinson Handicap, a mare who won at the track last summer and should thrive in similar conditions. Meanwhile, Mark Walford's SOLAR BIRICZ will be making his debut for his new trainer in the Nick Simpson Cannot Be 60 Handicap, having won a 5f handicap at Doncaster last summer for Brian Ellison.

This will be his first attempt at six furlongs, so it will be interesting to see how he performs. On Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing, I'm hoping Eve Johnson Houghton and Charlie Bishop can keep their Classic dreams alive with Betfred 2000 Guineas contender ZAVATERI in the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury.

Their Without Parole colt set the standard with a win in the Group 1 National Stakes in Ireland, although he didn't seem as comfortable on the undulations at Newmarket in the Dewhurst. However, Oxagon's win in the Craven Stakes has boosted his form.

Albert Einstein's recent performance in a Listed race at the Curragh was underwhelming, but it's intriguing that Aidan O'Brien is running him again over seven furlongs despite planning to target the big sprints this summer. The Group 3 Dubai Duty Free Stakes, also known as the Fred Darling, appears to be an open renewal with several fillies holding similar prospects. I'm convinced Shadwell's TOULEEN is better than her performance in the Rockfel last autumn, but she'll need to be to win this traditional Classic trial, a race I won on 33-1 shot Duty First last year.

Returning to this flatter track, where she won on debut, Owen Burrows' filly should perform well, although she may have the most to fear from Richard and Peter Fahey's Catching The Moon, who won at this level at Ayr in September and has Ryan Moore in the saddle. It would be a remarkable achievement for young trainer Jack Channon if URBAN LION could supplement his win in the Lincoln by adding the Win Unique Experiences At OLBG Prizes Spring Cup Handicap at Newbury.

He held Rogue Diplomat by a narrow margin on Town Moor, and while it should be another close call, I believe he's open to enough improvement to confirm the form for such a progressive yard and give Eddie Greatrex another notable success. I also expect Simon and Ed Crisford's Shout to fare better than he did at Doncaster, with that run under his belt and champion Oisin Murphy in the saddle, making him another one to keep an eye on.

I'm hoping to see old Al AASY win the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes for Tom Marquand and William Haggas. The nine-year-old loves this track and can keep Karl Burke's likely favourite Convergent on his toes.