Top 40 Prospects winners Celestran (11/4) & Nazeef (4/1)

On a day when there were some strange results, the Top 40 Prospects had a success afternoon on Wednesday with two winners courtesy of Celestran and Nazeef. 

The former looked a well handicapped three year old as he beat eleven opponents by upwards of a length and a half at Yarmouth. Rated 82, John Gosden's charge ran here in preference to the Lingfield Derby Trial and the decision was vindicated under a confident ride by Robert Havlin. Despite racing with an ungainly head carriage (wore a black nose band), the son of Dansili travelled smoothly and wasn't hard pressed to beat Bodyline. Out of a 1000 Guineas runner-up, one would imagine he will now head to Royal Ascot.

Stablemate Nazeef almost certainly booked her place in the Group 2 Duke of Cambridge Stakes at the Royal meeting following her impressive win in the Listed Snowdrop Stakes at Kempton. A three times winner last term, the four year old was tackling Pattern company for the first time. Drawn wide in stall 13, Jim Crowley was forced to be patient early on before producing a telling turn of foot inside the final two furlongs. The daughter of Invincible Spirit was pushed out under hands and heels to beat the former 1000 Guineas winner Billesdon Brook by three parts of a length. Admittedly, the runner-up was conceding seven pounds to Nazeef but it was still a very smart performance by the winner. She is an exciting prospect.

There were two other runners in the Top 40 Prospects on Wednesday - I will comment on their performances in the forthcoming Royal Ascot Update, which is due to be published in mid June. 

Talking of Royal Ascot, Wesley Ward has enjoyed tremendous success with his two year olds in recent years. When it comes to American racing, my interest is practically zero and my knowledge of it even less. However, Ward reportedly unleashes a potentially top notch juvenile in the 7.23 at Belmont Park on Wednesday evening. A colt by Malibu Moon, Fauci contests a five furlongs maiden against a handful of rivals. While readers are waiting for Coronation Street to start, it may be worth tuning in to see how he gets on.

Finally, one of the highlights of racing resuming this week has been the return of the Racing Post. It hasn't been the same during the last two and a half months without it. However, surely it would make sense for them to publish the following days runners. I cannot understand the management's thinking.