Sky Sports Racing ambassador Hollie Doyle is set to participate in Newmarket's Craven meeting, with a notable ride on Derby prospect Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. This week, I'm eager to see if Wareeth has what it takes to be a potential Derby contender when my employer Archie Watson's promising colt takes on the competition in the Listed Feilden Stakes. The additional furlong should suit the son of Sea The Stars, who is taking a significant step up in class after winning his novice race over 1m at Newcastle last month by an impressive 14 lengths.
Although Wareeth doesn't currently hold a Derby entry, we've been pleased with Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum's colt since his debut. He felt strong when I rode him last week, but we'll have a better understanding of his abilities 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 a promising fourth in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud in the autumn. He holds a Derby entry and has an official rating of 106, setting the standard for the other colts.
Both Wareeth and Godolphin's colt Poseidon's Warrior are making the leap from novice company, with Poseidon's Warrior having won over this distance at Goodwood. Not surprisingly, all three colts are entered 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, having run a lovely race for me at Newmarket in the autumn. He's been active on the All-Weather over the winter, winning at Wolverhampton and giving a good challenge to subsequent Listed dead-heater Completely Random at Lingfield Park. Approaching 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 opportunity to ride work on 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 a long shot, this tough daughter of New Bay brings some notable form into this Betfred 1000 Guineas trial, having come 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 needs to demonstrate that he's just as capable 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 when he was too keen.
Meanwhile, it will be all about gaining experience for Des Donovan's LADY FIZZ 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 in due course, given that she's out of a 10f winning daughter of Golden Horn. I'm looking forward to being back at Newmarket on Thursday to ride Marco Botti's Shergar Cup winner PRINCE OF INDIA in the Zyn Abernant Stakes.
It'll be the first time I've ridden 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 in top form 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 is Karl Burke's Boiling Point, who 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.
Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing's Simon Mapletoft.