This week, I'm excited to be riding at Newmarket's Craven meeting, with a notable ride on the promising Derby contender Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. On Wednesday, my standout ride will be Wareeth, trained by my boss Archie Watson, as he takes on the challenge in the Listed Feilden Stakes. The additional furlong should suit the son of Sea The Stars, who is stepping up in class after an impressive 14-length victory in his novice race over 1m at Newcastle last month. Although he doesn't currently hold a Derby entry, we've been pleased with Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's colt since his debut, and I was impressed when I rode him last week.
However, we'll learn more about his potential after this second start. 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 has an official rating of 106, setting the standard for the field. Both Wareeth and Godolphin's Poseidon's Warrior are making the leap 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, following his lovely run at Newmarket in the autumn. After a busy winter on the All-Weather, winning at Wolverhampton and giving a good battle to Completely Random at Lingfield Park, he's approaching his prime as a five-year-old. I've had the opportunity to ride work on Jane Chapple-Hyam's outsider 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 promising form into this Betfred 1000 Guineas trial, having gotten within a neck of William Haggas's well-regarded Zooming. Impossible Mission needs to demonstrate his ability on turf, receiving 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 after his reappearance last month. Meanwhile, Des Donovan's debutant Lady Fizz will gain valuable experience in the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, taking on fillies from powerful yards over 1m, which may be a minimum trip for her in due course.
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 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, and 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 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 likely 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.