Easter Review

The Top 40 Prospects in Ahead On The Flat has produced two winners from three runners thus far. Poet's Word made a successful reappearance at Chelmsford on Thurday and Sir Michael Stoute's four year old is now set to tackle Pattern company. A ready winner of the ten furlongs handicap off a mark of 104, he is likely to be kept to the same trip for the same time but threatens to be even better over a mile and a half. A trip to Chester next month could be on his agenda with the Huxley Stakes an obvious target.

I thought Utmost ran very well to finish third in the conditions event at Newcastle on Good Friday. A Leicester maiden winner last Autumn, the son of Giant's Causeway was heavily supported beforehand. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, he stayed on well and looks ready for a step up to a mile and a quarter. It won't be long before he regains the winning thread and is a promising colt.

The Talking Trainers section of Ahead On The Flat had a successful day on Saturday with the likes of Blakeney Point (12/1), Sibilance (6/1) and What's The Story (15/8) registering victories. The first named maintained the good start to the season for his trainer Roger Charlton. The progressive four year old booked his place for the Chester Cup by capturing the Queens Prize at Kempton. I suggest readers keep an eye on the fifth place, namely Magic Circle, with the Roodeye in mind, too. I was told last week that Ralph Beckett is aiming the five year old at the Chester Cup and, granted a favourable draw and some ease in the ground, he looks the ideal type for the two and a quarter mile event.

The Flat racing next week should be terrific with three days at Newmarket's Craven meeting, plus another couple at Newbury following on. There are plenty of the Top 40 Prospects entered, including a couple of potentially very exciting unraced three year olds (featured on pages 23 & 34). If you would like to order a copy of AOTF, please head to the Publications section of the site.