Top 40 Prospects - 9 winners from 20 runners

The Top 40 Prospects in Ahead On The Flat has made a tremendous start to the season with 9 winners from only 20 runners so far and an overall profit of £136.00 (£10 level stake). Ulysses (3/1) and Serenada (2/1) won this afternoon at Sandown with the former producing a particularly impressive display in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes. Sir Michael Stoute's four year old was dropping back to ten furlongs but the son of Galileo took it in his stride. Confidently ridden by Andrea Atzeni, he took over approaching the final furlong before staying on too strongly for the race fit Deauville to win by a length. It was a very taking performance and it would be no suprise to see him return to the Esher track at the end of next month for the Brigadier Gerard Stakes over the same distance. He looks a Group 1 performer in the making. The fourth home Royal Artillery may not have been suited by the watered ground and remains a fair prospect, especially when stepped up to a mile and a half.

Serenada was all out to win the ten furlongs fillies' maiden later on the card but it was still a good performance. Third on her only start at Newbury last backend, she showed a good attitude to beat debutant Apphia by a short head. Roger Varian's filly will stay a mile and a half and she is likely to tackle an Oaks trial next.

Eldritch, featured in the Handicap Snips section of AOTF, maintained his unbeaten record in the opening ten furlongs handicap at Doncaster. John Gosden's colt was racing off a mark of 77 and, having come from a long way back, he quickened up smartly to win going away by a length and three quarters. The son of Dark Angel may be even better on a slow surface and is very much one to keep on side.

One of the most interesting horses running tomorrow is the one featured at the bottom of page 74 of Ahead On The Flat. Held in high regard, he looks well drawn and, while he will almost certainly improve for the run, I will be disappointed if he doesn't go close. The fast ground will be in his favour and hopefully this will be a stepping stone to bigger and better things during the summer.