1.50 Alex Scott Maiden Stakes
Mutafaakir made a promising start over this trip at Doncaster at the start of the month. But Hamdan Al Maktoum's new retained rider, Paul Hanagan, deserts him here in favour of QANNAAS. Barry Hills may have handed the reins over to son Charles but will still be having an input and the yard has a terrific record in this race, having supplied the winner in four of the last 10 years. The selection was just beaten in a hot maiden over C&D in the autumn and can go one better on his reappearance. Periphery was a short-priced favourite on his return at Yarmouth but well beaten and has a bit to prove now, but Flaxen Flare should be winning soon and it's too early to give up on Poole Harbour. Cogito, Courage and Moss Hill are all newcomers worth noting in the betting.
2.25 equestrianartuk.com Conditions Stakes
Dreamy Ciara got off the mark at Wolverhampton earlier this month and stepped up on that effort when beating a well-regarded Hannon inmate at Nottingham. She has a double penalty to carry now, however, and may struggle to get the better of BAILEYS JUBILEE. The latter looked a potentially smart early-season juvenile when beating the more experienced Marvelino by four lengths at Kempton and the switch to turf shouldn't be a problem. Newcomers Lucky Beggar and Tahaf are both nicely-bred but may do better when tackling longer trips later in the year.
3.00 150,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Sprint
Two-year-old form isn't always reproduced at three but it will probably take a smart performance here to lower the colours of SAMITAR. Mick Channon's filly was a tough juvenile and only beaten a head in the Group 1 Fillies' Mile in September before picking up the winning thread again over 7f at the track on her final start when Wahylah was almost six lengths further back. She's preferred to stablemate Tidentime but Swiss Spirit could go well as another winter will have enabled him to fill his sizeable frame a little better. David Elsworth's colt probably has more scope than the likes of Balty Boys and all-weather winner Switzerland. Best of the rest may be Valbchek, who shot clear on the Polytrack last month despite running green and can only improve for the experience.
3.35 Bet At bluesquare.com European Free Handicap (Listed)
Several of these, albeit optimistically, still hold an entry in next month's 2000 Guineas but the likes of Bannock, West Leake Diman and B Fifty Two may always be best over sprint distances. Telwaar had three runs in this grade after winning his maiden at Doncaster in June, finishing second to Fencing at Newbury in August in the last of them. Redact had B Fifty Two behind when a half-length second to Casper Netscher in the Mill Reef at Newbury and certainly warrants respect as he'll have had plenty of work but ZUMBI is probably the one to beat as he proved his effectiveness over today's trip when third in York's Acomb Stakes in August and has more scope than his rivals. Hazaz was also third in a Group 3 over 7f in October but has been beaten in two starts since and it will be a surprise if he loses his maiden tag here.
4.10 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (Fillies' Group 3)
Speciosa, in 2006, was the last winner of this to go on and land the 1000 Guineas but the Nell Gwyn invariably produces a decent filly that's worth following in the months ahead. All but three of these still hold an entry in the year's first classic and Pimpernel arguably had the best form as a juvenile, finishing ahead of both Sunday Times and Regal Realm when runner-up in the Rockfel over C&D in October, though she was disappointing in a couple of runs in Dubai in February. Excelette was a tough two-year-old but is sprint-bred so the trip could be a problem, while Lily's Angel may also struggle to get home on last year's evidence. The fitting of a hood suggest connections are a little worried about the attitude of Starscope but Russelliana may have already gone over the top when behind Regal Realm in the Princess Margaret at Ascot in July and better is expected here. NAYARRA, along with Lily's Angel, also finished behind Regal Realm, at Goodwood in August, but made giant strides thereafter and gained a deserved success in a Group 1 in Italy in the autumn after finishing ahead of Minidress over this C&D in September. She is fancied to follow up that victory today.
4.45 Blue Square Feilden Stakes (Listed)
PEMBREY has a bit to find on the bare form of his 20/1 success in a maiden here in the autumn but the Godolphin colt has a host of fancy entries and is clearly well thought of. Frankie is on board today and the Teofilio colt can make a winning reappearance though Jungle Beat, winner of his only start at Newbury last July, is equally unexposed and has an Epsom Derby entry. Perennial wasn't beaten far in a Group 3 here in October and also has to go on the short-list but Producer appeared to have his limitations exposed when stepping out of handicaps on his final start of last year. Stipulate ran well in this grade at Haydock and Pontefract in the autumn, however, and could make his presence felt with his stable already in good form.
5.20 Get Your Bets On At bluesquare.com Maiden Stakes
Pembrey's run in the previous race will be a pointer to the chances of Yaa Salam, who finished third to his stablemate here in October. But Dettori prefers the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Shuja, who only found Gregorian too good in a Doncaster maiden in October. Gregorian's trainer, John Gosden, saddles SHANTARAM here and it's the Sandown runner-up that gets the vote to go one better. All That Rules, Model Pupil and Rainbow Gold should all improve on their initial efforts and could be interesting but the market will probably be the best guide to the chances of newcomers Sash Of Honour and Suraj, and Humungosaur looks very exposed compared to his rivals.
5.55 Bet At bluesquare.com On Your Mobile Handicap
Es Que Love was well backed on his reappearance at Pontefract and duly obliged. However, he may struggle to dominate these under a penalty. Amazing Storm stayed on strongly on his reappearance at Kempton but this drop in distance isn't certain to suit while Gatepost's last two runs have also been over further and he appears to have lost his way. Heeraat only beat one home in a Group 3 at Kempton in September but could be well handicapped here and Top Cop may also have a bit of scope, while Desert Philosopher won his maiden in Wolverhampton in October and looks the pick of Kevin Ryan's pair. RESPONSIVE went close off a similar mark at Doncaster in September and has the speed to cope with the shorter trip. She should give supporters a run for their money with Hughie Morrison's stable already among the winners, though Alejandro and Ballesteros generally kept better company as juveniles.
