Andrew Balding & Iain Jardine prove spot on

Andrew Balding nominated the well bred Foxtrot Lady (5/2) as his horse to follow for 2018 in Ahead On The Flat and the daughter of Foxwedge scored for the second time in the six furlongs fillies' handicap at Carlisle. Despite edging to her left inside the final furlong, she always looked in control before crossing the line nearly four lengths in front. She is a progressive filly.

Stone The Crows (9/1) was Iain Jardine's choice on page 82 and the former Roger Charlton trained gelding benefited from his reappearance at York last month by taking the one mile six handicap at the Cumbrian venue. In a change of tactics, the four year old made virtually all the running before battling on gamely to repel the sustained challenge of Dominating. I must confess to having questioned his attitude in the past but it was faultless on this occasion. His trainer feels he will have no problem staying further in due course.

And, just for good measure, Hugo Palmer remarked about the lightly raced Morning Beauty on page 97: "I have been delighted with her during the winter because she has developed greatly and changed so much physically. I like her and will be disappointed if she doesn't win races." The daughter of Dawn Approach duly won the extended one mile three fillies' novice stakes at Haydock on Friday evening at the rewarding odds of 66/1.