I'm excited to be back in action at Newmarket's Craven meeting this week, with a standout ride on Derby prospect Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. My boss Archie Watson's talented colt will face a significant class test, but the extra furlong should suit him perfectly. Wareeth, the son of Sea The Stars, is taking a big step up after his impressive 14-length win in a novice race at Newcastle last month. Although he doesn't have a Derby entry, we've been thrilled with his progress since his debut.
I had the chance to ride him last week and was pleased with how he felt. However, we'll learn more about his potential after this second start.
Aidan O'Brien's Isaac Newton, who has a Derby entry and an official rating of 106, will provide stiff competition. Godolphin's Poseidon's Warrior, another Derby entrant, will also be in the mix.
All three colts are set to compete in the traditional Derby trial, the Group 2 Dante at York next month. I'm expecting a strong performance from Heather Main's sprinter Zoulu Chief in the Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap on Wednesday.
He's been in excellent form, winning at Wolverhampton and pushing Completely Random to a dead heat in a Listed race at Lingfield Park. As a five-year-old, he's approaching his prime and looks every bit a 90 horse. I've had the opportunity to ride Jane Chapple-Hyam's outsider Harlequin Breeze in a workout, and I believe she's worth her place in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on Wednesday. Despite likely being a long shot, she brings some promising form into this Betfred 1000 Guineas trial, having finished within a neck of William Haggas's well-regarded Zooming.
Harlequin Breeze is still a maiden after three starts, but she's improved with each run and impressed me with her determination over course and distance back in November. Impossible Mission needs to demonstrate that he can perform just as well on turf as he does on the All-Weather when he receives weight from his rivals in the National Stud Handicap on Wednesday. John Butler's three-year-old made a winning handicap debut at Wolverhampton in November and should have improved since his reappearance there last month.
Meanwhile, Des Donovan's debutant Lady Fizz will gain valuable experience in the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes on Wednesday, taking on fillies from top yards over 1m, which may be a minimum trip for her in the future. I'm looking forward to riding Marco Botti's Shergar Cup winner Prince Of India in the Zyn Abernant Stakes on Thursday.
It'll be my first time riding him on the track, but I was impressed when I sat on him on the gallops last year. He's a powerfully built colt who could be a force in stakes sprints this summer. The race appears to be wide open, but Prince Of India should be spot on after a creditable comeback in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton last month.
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 after taking the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last October and can strengthen his own Derby claims. Another favorite of mine is Karl Burke's Boiling Point, who returns to turf in the Group 3 Betway Earl Of Sefton Stakes on Wednesday.
The Cambridgeshire winner probably needed the outing in a steadily run Winter Derby, but with that run under his belt, he can establish himself as a genuine Pattern performer this season.