I'm set to ride at Newmarket's Craven meeting, where I'll be partnering Derby hopeful Wareeth in the Listed Feilden Stakes. This will be a crucial test for my boss Archie Watson's exciting colt, who will be taking a significant step up in class after his impressive 14-length win in a novice race at Newcastle last month.
Wareeth, a son of Sea The Stars, will be racing over an extra furlong, which should suit him well. Although he doesn't currently hold a Derby entry, we've been pleased with his progress since his debut, and I was impressed when I rode him last week. However, it's his second start that will give us a better understanding of his abilities. Aidan O'Brien's Isaac Newton, who has already won a maiden at Goodwood and finished fourth in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, will provide stiff competition.
He holds a Derby entry and boasts an official rating of 106. Another contender, Godolphin's Poseidon's Warrior, will also be making the leap from novice company after winning over this distance at Goodwood. All three colts are entered in the traditional Derby trial, the Group 2 Dante at York next month. I'm also looking forward to riding Heather Main's sprinter Zoulou Chief in the Weatherbys With Venatour Racing Handicap on Wednesday.
He's been in good form over the winter, winning at Wolverhampton and giving a good account of himself against Completely Random at Lingfield Park. Now, as a five-year-old, he's approaching his prime and looks every bit a 90 horse, despite being a few pounds higher than his best winning performance at York in 2023. I've had the opportunity to ride Jane Chapple-Hyam's outsider Harlequin Breeze in a workout, and I believe she's worth her place in the Group 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes on Wednesday. Although she's still a maiden after three starts, she's shown improvement with every run and impressed me with her determination over course and distance back in November.
Impossible Mission will need to demonstrate his ability on turf, having previously shown promise on the All-Weather, when he receives weight from 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 progressed since his reappearance there last month. Meanwhile, Des Donovan's debutant Lady Fizz will be gaining valuable experience in the Molson Coors British EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes, taking on fillies from prominent yards over 1m, which may prove to be a minimum trip for her in the future.
On Thursday, I'll be riding Marco Botti's Shergar Cup winner Prince Of India in the Zyn Abernant Stakes. I had the chance to ride him on the gallops last year and was impressed by his powerful build, which could make him a force in stakes sprints this summer. The race appears to be 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.
Aidan O'Brien's son of Wootton Bassett is already a Group 1 winner, having taken the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last October, and can strengthen his own 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. 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.