Redcar and Windsor welcome back the flat on Monday with plenty of early season clues on offer at both respective cards.
Richard Hannon has dominated Windsor in tandem with stable jockey Richard Hughes last season and remains the trainer to side with at the track. With the champion jockey on the sidelines however will they still be the same force of old?
With Hughes out it leaves Ryan Moore, the nearest danger to his championship, to step up and he looks to have a fantastic chance aboard Magical Roundabout (2.10) in the opening five furlong maiden.
The colt marks the first few juveniles represented by sire Zebedee, trained by the same connections to a highly fruitful 2-y-o campaign and likely to excel with, like him, speedy youngsters. Should Moore be able to work his magic and pave a path from stall thirteen, he has strong claims.
The former champion jockey makes the trip presumably to ride Cannock Chase (4.10) for boss Sir Michael Stoute. He aims to go one better than his second on debut to Andrew Balding‘s highly-touted Pearl Spectre. The Lemon Drop Kid colt is stepped up to a mile and a quarter on his first run of the season and looks to have a very bright future.
If there is a danger then the John Gosden’s Loving Home looks to be the one to watch out for. The filly is bred in the purple, by Shamardal out of the talented mare Fallen in Love; she should be able to build on her third on debut last season at Newmarket.
Gosden’s string generally don’t hit top form until later in the season but Westminster (3.40) is a fascinating runner for the stable and dangerous, should he be fully tuned up for his first start of the season.
The 3-y-o colt by Exceed and Excel should appreciate the step up in trip and was an impressive winner last time out at Southwell landing a maiden over seven furlongs by four lengths. Upholland has been tried on the all-weather over the winter and appears the biggest danger with a visor on for the first time and Ryan Moore an eye-catching jockey booking for the Richard Fahey trained gelding.
Gone with the Wind is likely to be a warm favourite in the sprint handicap however it could be worth taking a chance on Stomp (2.40) with regular partner James Doyle back in the plate.
The gelding was last seen finishing third at Kempton when a beaten favourite, hampered for room in the closing stages, and a switch to turf should see him in a better light, from a pound lower mark.
Meanwhile, at Redcar, Paddy Again (2.20) can go one better than her second in the Brocklesby last month at Doncaster. The filly attempted to make all and was just caught late on by Cock of the North.
She showed enough ability to indicate that a maiden of this calibre was well within her reach, trainer Bill Turner notorious for his horses starting the season well.
Mark Johnston’s stable remain in excellent form at present and his runner Cloverdale (3.50) can capitalise on the favourable opening mark of 84 in the mile handicap. The Pivotal filly turned over the odds-on favourite On Demand last month at Southwell and looks to have a bright future ahead of her.
Richard Fahey’s Justonefortheroad was well punted a fortnight ago at Doncaster for a similar contest and is respected, as is James Fanshawe’s Knight Owl on his seasonal debut.
Fahey’s Alquimia (4.20) goes handicapping after three runs in maidens at Newmarket, Wolverhampton and Goodwood, the latter seeing the filly put her best run to date when chasing home Henry Candy’s Veiled Intrigue.
The winner was narrowly beaten in group company since and the form looks strong. She should go close from an opening mark of 66 with stable jockey Tony Hamilton doing the steering.
For all the latest odds go to BetVictor.com
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