This week, I'm set to ride at Newmarket's Craven meeting, with a notable mount on the promising Derby contender, Wareeth, in the Listed Feilden Stakes. My standout ride for the week, trained by Archie Watson, will face a class jump after an impressive 14-length victory in his novice race over 1m at Newcastle last month. The extra distance in the Feilden Stakes should suit the son of Sea The Stars well. Although Wareeth doesn't currently hold a Derby entry, his performance since his racecourse debut has been delightful.
I had the chance to ride him last week and felt good about his potential, but this second start will reveal more about his capabilities. Wareeth will be up against experienced competitors, including Aidan O'Brien's Isaac Newton, who has a Derby entry and boasts an official rating of 106 after winning his maiden at Goodwood and finishing fourth in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. Another contender, Poseidon's Warrior, also makes the leap from novice company into this race. All three colts are entered into the traditional Derby trial, the Group 2 Dante at York, next month.
In the Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap on Wednesday, I'm expecting a strong performance from ZOULU CHIEF, who ran a lovely race at Newmarket in the autumn. Having been active on the All-Weather over winter, including a win at Wolverhampton and a good battle against Completely Random at Lingfield Park, ZOULU CHIEF is approaching his prime as a five-year-old and looks every bit a 90 horse. I've had the opportunity to ride work on Jane Chapple-Hyam's HARLEQUIN BREEZE and believe she's worth her place in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on Wednesday.
Despite likely being an outsider, this tough daughter of New Bay brings potentially smart 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 shown improvement with every run and impressed me with her determination over course and distance back in November.
IMPOSSIBLE MISSION faces a test to prove his turf capabilities in the National Stud Handicap on Wednesday, receiving weight from all his rivals. This follows a winning handicap debut under Neil Callan at Wolverhampton in November. For Des Donovan's LADY FIZZ, the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes will be about gaining experience, taking on fillies from powerful yards over 1m, which may be a minimum trip for her given her pedigree.
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 found him to be a powerfully built colt who could be a force in stakes sprints this summer.
The race appears wide-open, but he should be well-prepared after a creditable comeback in the Listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton last month. I have high expectations for Hawk Mountain this year, and I'll be disappointed if he doesn't make a winning return in the Group 3 Betway Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday.
As a Group 1 winner after taking the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last October, he can strengthen his Derby claims. Another favourite of mine, Karl Burke's Boiling Point, returns to turf in the Group 3 Betway Earl Of Sefton Stakes on Wednesday, likely to establish himself as a genuine Pattern performer this season after needing the outing in a steadily run Winter Derby.