I'm set to participate in the Craven meeting at Newmarket, where I'll be riding the promising Derby hopeful Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. My key ride for the week, Wareeth, will be taking on the challenge in the Feilden Stakes on Wednesday. The additional furlong will be ideal for this Sea The Stars colt, who will be stepping up in class after his impressive 14-length victory in a novice race over 1m at Newcastle last month.
Although Wareeth doesn't currently hold a Derby entry, his performance since his debut has been delightful. I had the chance to ride him last week and felt good about his prospects, but we'll learn more after this race. Aidan O'Brien's Isaac Newton has an edge in terms of experience, having won his maiden at Goodwood and finished fourth in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. He holds a Derby entry and boasts an official rating of 106.
Poseidon's Warrior, another contender, will also be making the leap from novice company after winning over this distance at Goodwood and is entered in the Classic. 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 ZOULU CHIEF in the Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap on Wednesday, having previously run a lovely race at Newmarket. He's been active on the All-Weather during the winter, winning at Wolverhampton and giving a good challenge to Completely Random at Lingfield Park.
Approaching his prime at five years old, he's rated a few pounds higher than his best winning performance at York in 2023 but appears to be a 90 horse. I've had the opportunity to ride Jane Chapple-Hyam's HARLEQUIN BREEZE and believe she deserves her place in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on Wednesday.
Despite likely being an outsider, this New Bay daughter brings some notable form into this Betfred 1000 Guineas trial, having come within a neck of William Haggas's well-regarded Zooming. Although still a maiden after three starts, Harlequin Breeze has shown improvement with each run and impressed me with her determination over course and distance in November.
IMPOSSIBLE MISSION needs to demonstrate his turf capabilities, receiving weight from all his rivals in the National Stud Handicap on Wednesday. Having made a winning handicap debut at Wolverhampton in November, he should have progressed from his reappearance last month.
For Des Donovan's LADY FIZZ, it will be about gaining experience in the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, taking on fillies from prominent 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. Having sat on him on the gallops last year, I liked his powerful build, and he 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 favorite of mine, Karl Burke's Boiling Point, returns to turf in the Group 3 Betway Earl Of Sefton Stakes on Wednesday. After likely needing the outing in a steadily run Winter Derby, he can establish himself as a genuine Pattern performer this season with that run under his belt.