A change of luck

The Top 40 Prospects in Ahead On The Flat had a welcome change of fortune on Thursday following a series of near misses in recent days (three narrow seconds and a close third - all beaten less than half a length). Roger Varian has never hidden his affection for Gold Wand and she looks a filly with considerable potential following her cosy victory at Newbury. Runner-up behind the well regarded Domino Darling (runs on Saturday at Newbury) on her only outing as a juvenile at Doncaster last backend, she was fitted with a hood in the paddock and on the way to the start. Keen early on, she travelled powerfully for Andrea Atzeni in the ten furlongs fillies' maiden before going to the front with three furlongs to run. Pushed out for a length and a half victory, it would be no surprise to see her connections steer the daughter of Golden Horn towards the Oaks at Epsom next month. 

It has been another productive week for followers of Ahead On The Flat with Jedd O'Keeffe's stable interview unearthing Only Alone (25/1) at Beverley on Thursday. Micky Hammond's former assistant has been knocking on the door since the resumption of racing and hopefully he is set for a stream of winners. 

Burmese Waltz (13/2) won on her first run for Archie Watson at Kempton on Wednesday evening and was highlighted as a horse to follow in the Clipper Logistics interview with Joe Foley (page 48). The Maidens In Waiting section has produced promising types First Receiver and Frankly Darling and Magical Morning (9/4) was added to that list after making all on her reappearance at Yarmouth on Wednesday evening. The well bred daughter of Muharrar pulled clear under Frankie Dettori to win by four lengths.

Talking of Ahead On The Flat, we have literally only got a dozen copies left - the response has been superb. Thank you very much to all those clients who have purchased during what has been a very difficult time. 

The Royal Ascot Update was due to be emailed to clients on Sunday but there is every possibility I will now send it out on Monday (15th June). The change of plan is due to the circumstances - the entries for the final day of the meeting (Saturday 20th June) are not published until Monday pm. I can't write/select horses for Saturday's card without seeing the entries. Due to the virus, there haven't been an early closing race entries this year.

Please head to the Publications section of the site to order your copy of the Royal Ascot Update. It is £10 or £19 for all three Updates for the Flat season.