Horroob one to follow

The Silver Bowl at Haydock (27th May) could be on the agenda for the progressive Horroob. Roger Varian's colt made it two from two this season with a neck victory at Lingfield yesterday. The winning margin may not have been much but one can't help feeling he won with something in hand. The son of Showcasing was scoring off a mark of 86 and, even allowing for a five or six pounds rise, he can remain ahead of the handicapper. Yet to race beyond seven furlongs, he threatens to be even better over a mile and looks tailormade for the valuable prize at the Merseyside track in three weeks.

War Chief, who is highlighted in the Handicap Snips section of Ahead On The Flat, narrowly missed out on his reappearance at Chepstow this afternoon. Conceding eight pounds, he found the Paul Cole trained Arctic Sea a neck too strong. It is possible Alan King's charge didn't appreciate the quick ground because he hung to his left before being straightened up by Fergus Sweeney. A winner on slow ground last year, it shouldn't be long before the son of Aqlaam goes one better.

In the same section, the penultimate horse on page 115 has his first run for his new trainer tomorrow. He is a horse to keep a close eye on and I am expecting him to progress as the season goes on.

I am heading to Newmarket tomorrow for the Guineas meeting so will update the Diary at the start of next week. Have a good weekend.