This week, I'll be competing at Newmarket's Craven meeting, with a thrilling ride on Derby prospect Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. On Wednesday, my standout mount, Wareeth, trained by my boss Archie Watson, will take part in the Listed Feilden Stakes. The additional furlong should suit the son of Sea The Stars, who is stepping up in class after a commanding 14-length victory in his novice race over 1m at Newcastle last month.
Although he doesn't have a Derby entry, we've been pleased with Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's colt since his debut. I had the opportunity to ride him last week, and he felt good, but we'll know more after this second start. Aidan O'Brien's Isaac Newton has an edge in experience, having won his maiden at Goodwood and finishing fourth in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud. He holds a Derby entry and has an official rating of 106.
Both Wareeth and Godolphin's Poseidon's Warrior are moving from novice company, with the latter also 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 Heather Main's sprinter ZOULU CHIEF in the Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap on Wednesday. He's been active on the All-Weather over the winter, winning at Wolverhampton and giving a good challenge to Completely Random at Lingfield Park.
Now in his prime as a five-year-old, he's a few pounds higher than his best winning performance at York in 2023 but appears to be a 90 horse. I've had the chance to ride Jane Chapple-Hyam's outsider 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 tough daughter of New Bay brings promising form into this Betfred 1000 Guineas trial, having come close to William Haggas's well-regarded Zooming. Harlequin Breeze is still a maiden after three starts but has improved with each run and impressed me with her determination over course and distance in November.
IMPOSSIBLE MISSION needs to demonstrate he's as good on turf as he is on the All-Weather when he receives weight from all his rivals in the National Stud Handicap on Wednesday. John Butler's three-year-old made a winning handicap debut under Neil Callan at Wolverhampton in November and should have improved from his reappearance there last month. For Des Donovan's LADY FIZZ, it will be about gaining experience in the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes. This debutant faces fillies from prominent yards over 1m, which may be a minimum trip for her, being out of a 10f winning daughter of Golden Horn.
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 wide-open, but this son of Wootton Bassett 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 favourite of mine, Karl Burke's Boiling Point, 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.