The Flat Notebook 2012 is up and running for the campaign with two winners this week thanks to Lui Rei and Graphic Guest. The former scored at Goodwood over five furlongs despite the fact we suggested six furlongs was more suitable.
However, with the continued soft ground, he was able to lay-up just behind the pace and was never going to be pegged back once hitting the front at the distance as he returned at 7-2.
Graphic Guest was sent off even money at Ascot on Friday evening and duly got off the mark with the minimum of fuss.
We thought it would take a pretty decent type to beat her and with the original race being divided due to the soggy conditions in Berkshire, she had a pretty straightforward task against two newcomers that were not patricularly strong in the betting and a Mark Johnston inmate who had not shown the same level of form on her debut at Pontefract.
All-in-all, Graphic Guest's price reflected her chance and she scored as predicted.
Connections of Elusivity dropped him back in trip for the Palace House Stakes at Nerwmarket and he ran creditably in third behind Mayson.
He was noted moving as strongly as the winner approaching the distance with Frankie Dettori trying to get some cover but he could not quite find the same kick as the first home, who is right on top of his game currently.
Elusivity has an entry in next week's Duke Of York Stakes and the six furlongs should be ideal but he is on course for another clash with Mayson - he is 0-2 this season against Richard Fahey's sprinter. We're taking him out of The Notebook as we think his sights need to be lowered.
Martin Chuzzlewit ran in a hot 12-furlong handicap at Chester and put up a solid performance in third behind Rosslyn Castle and Gabrial The Great.
This form looks very good and he deserves another chance considering as well the Sir Michael Stoute team has yet to find any real form this year.
Ta Ajabb could turn out on Tuesday at Kempton - there are sure to be some representatives from top stables up against him while the switch to the all-weather is an unknown following his Thirsk debut.
But the seven furlongs should not be an issue and granted a decent draw, he is capable of a positive run.
John Gosden has sent Shantaram to Lingfield for the Derby Trial, working on the assumption that he is up to Group class with Model Pupil boosting the form of their Newmarket maiden at Chester in midweek.
The third and fifth have come out from the same race and also triumphed so it is easy to see why Shantaram is vying for favouritism in this Group 3.
Twelve furlongs will be right up his street so expect him to be prominent throughout as this really scopey sort will not want to get into a tactical battle.
Mutafaakir is entered at Kempton on Tuesday over a mile and we're sticking with him after he reared in the stalls last time. He's worth one more chance.
