This weekend promises to be action-packed for me, with several key races taking place. My employer, Archie Watson, is sending two promising young horses to Thirsk, where I will be riding them.
The first, NIEWIADOMA, is making her debut in the British EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes. I have had the opportunity to ride her several times in preparation and I'm pleased with her progress. She has natural speed and a great attitude.
However, it's difficult to gauge her opponents as they are all newcomers to the track. MERLIER, on the other hand, has shown progress on the All-Weather and I'm looking forward to riding him again in the Stirrup Bar For Deli-Style Dinning Packages Handicap.
He has won two races so far, but this will be his first time in a handicap, and he'll be facing proven sprinters. I'm expecting WARM SPELL to perform well in the Join Racing TV Today Handicap.
He has run some good races in the past and his low mark should work in his favor. I'll also be riding IDYLLIC in the Happy 21st Birthday Lily Watkinson Handicap and SOLAR BIRICZ in the Nick Simpson Cannot Be 60 Handicap.
One of the key races this weekend is the Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes at Newbury, where ZAVATERI will be competing. He had a great juvenile campaign and I'm hoping he can keep his Classic dreams alive. The Dubai Duty Free Stakes, also known as the Fred Darling, looks like an open race with several fillies having similar chances.
I'm convinced that TOULEEN is better than her previous performance, but she'll need to be at her best to win. The Spring Cup Handicap is another exciting race, with URBAN LION looking to build on his win in the Lincoln. I'm expecting him to perform well, along with Simon and Ed Crisford's Shout. Finally, I'm hoping to see Al AASY win the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes for Tom Marquand and William Haggas.