observations

2.25 York, Hcp, 3yo/up, 7fT Sheikh Juma Dalmook Al Maktoum's long-striding EXTREMELY ZAIN (FR) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), who retains a G1 Sussex Stakes entry, seeks to build upon a TDN Rising Star display at Newbury four weeks ago and will carry a relatively light 130 pounds in this handicap bow. The track's profile should play to the strengths of the William Haggas trainee and he faces 19 seasoned rivals in his first assignment against the older brigades.   4.15 York, Mdn, 2yo, 6fT Godolphin debutant INNER CITY BLUES (IRE) (Blue...

2.48 Sandown, Mdn, 2yo, 7fT Godolphin's 1.9-million guineas October Book 1 graduate KING'S WELCOME (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) debuts for the Charlie Appleby stable successful in this last year with subsequent G2 Superlative Stakes victor Saba Desert (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). His six rivals include the George Boughey-trained Kaito (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is a half-brother to the multiple Group-placed dual Listed winner Boiling Point (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}); Richard Hannon nominee Il Capo (Ire) (Supremacy {Ire}), who is kin to G3 Anglesey Stakes victrix Kairyu (Ire) (Kuroshio {Aus}); and...

4.40 Newbury, Novice, 3yo, f, 9fT MANAAR (IRE) (St Mark's Basilica {Fr}) is an intriguing debutante for Shadwell and William Haggas, being a half-sister to the stable's four-times Group 1 winner Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai). A 370,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase, she faces a clutch of bluebloods including the Thoroughbred Racing Corporation's Leicester winner Miss Scott (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), a John and Thady Gosden-trained half-sister to the smart fillies Grand Stars (Sea The Stars) and Catalina Delcarpio (Lope De Vega) who was a 650,000gns purchase also...

5.40 Kempton, Novice, 2yo, f, 7fT PEQUENITA (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is an intriguing debutante for her breeders Newsells Park Stud and the Andrew Balding stable, being the first foal out of the Prix du Muguet winner Sibila Spain (Frankel) who cost the operation €2 million at the 2023 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale. Another newcomer of note is the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred Dark Reign (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), a Richard Hannon-trained relative of the Commonwealth Cup hero Inisherin and Group 3 winner King Of Cities. 7.00...

4.18 Salisbury, Mdn, 3yo, 9f 201yT CENTRUM (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) makes his belated debut for Juddmonte and the Gosdens but, as the 13th foal out of Concentric (Sadler's Wells), he has time to add to an illustrious family honour. A half-brother to the brilliant Enable (Nathaniel), he is the first progeny by this sire out of the mare, who has also produced the stakes performers Derab (Sea The Stars), Entitle (Dansili) and Contribution (Champs Elysees), with the latter responsible for Dubawi's Prix Penelope winner Agave. Heading the opposition is Al...

2.45 Carlisle, Novice, 2yo, 5f 182yT LIGHT OF DAWN (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) is a hot prospect for Wathnan Racing and the Karl Burke stable with Royal Ascot looming, being the operation's €625,000 purchase at the recent Arqana May Breeze-Up Sale. Out of Jim Bolger's Listed-winning An Ghalanta (Holy Roman Emperor), she is a half-sister to three stakes performers, headed by Bletchley (Makfi), who was runner-up in the Albany at Royal Ascot and Woodbine's Nassau.

5.30 Leopardstown, Mdn, 2yo, f, 7f 20yT Coolmore and Flaxman Stables' newcomer IBELIEVEICANFLY (Frankel {GB}) is out of G2 Prix Corrida second That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality) and thus kin to the ill-fated G1 Irish Derby and G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup placegetter Piz Badile (Ire) (Ulysses {Ire}) and the dual Group 3-placed Yosemite Valley (GB) (Shamardal). Rivals of the Ryan Moore selection include connections' Aidan O'Brien stablemate Alpha (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who is out of four-time Group 1 heroine Alpha Centauri (Mastercraftsman).

3.18 Nottingham, Mdn, 2yo, f, 5f 8yT SENORITA BONITA (IRE) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) topped the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale at 900,000gns and debuts for Victorious Forever and Simon and Ed Crisford in the maiden won in the last three years by Zelaina, Leovanni and Beautiful Diamond. Jaber Abdullah's Queen Of Christmas (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) also makes her debut, with the Karl Burke-trained €305,000 Arqana Deauville October purchase a half-sister to the Listed-winning dam of last year's Prix du Moulin de Longchamp hero Sahlan (Wootton Bassett).   5.40 Curragh, Mdn, 2yo,...

3.05 Saint-Cloud, Mdn, unraced 2yo, c/g, 7fT Coolmore and Westerberg's hitherto unraced AVEC TOI (No Nay Never) is a Kentucky-bred son of G1 Yorkshire Oaks and G1 Prix Vermeille third La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), herself kin to G1 Irish Derby hero Santiago (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}). The Christopher Head trainee is opposed by 10 fellow debutants in a heat won in recent years by subsequent elite-level performers Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}), Alcantor (Fr) (New Bay {GB}) and Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). 3.40 Saint-Cloud, Mdn, unraced 2yo,...

7.30 Kempton, Novice, 3yo/up, 10f 219y (AWT) WATER TO WINE (FR) (Kingman {GB}) was one of the talking horses for the Derby ahead of the Chester Vase, which he missed but he is back with Royal Ascot in the mind of connections. A taking winner on debut at Newbury last month, George Strawbridge's relative of Dominant and Es Que Love is joined by the fellow John and Thady Gosden-trained newcomer Humphrey (GB) (Pinatubo {Ire}), Normandie Stud's half-brother to the G2 Queen's Vase winner and Goodwood Cup third Gregory (Golden Horn)....

1.45 Curragh, Mdn, 2yo, f, 6fT SNOWING (IRE) (No Nay Never) is one of three from Ballydoyle and not the first choice, but as a half-sister to the high-class multiple Group 1-placed miler Maljoom (Caravaggio) probably the most intriguing. A 950,000gns Tattersalls October Book 1 purchase, she is joined by Ryan Moore's pick Sun Goddess (Ire) (Sioux Nation), a relative of Thesecretadversary (St Mark's Basilica) who was runner-up at Naas, and Heaven's Glory (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a full-sister to this month's Listed Lingfield Oaks winner Cameo.

1.45 Haydock, Listed, 4yo/up, f/m, 10f 100yT George Strawbridge's homebred FRIENDLY SOUL (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who has won five of six prior outings, makes her first start since posting a career highlight in 2024's G1 Prix de l'Opera. She is a sibling of Group 1 winners With You (GB) (Dansili {GB}), Call The Wind (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and We Are (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) and the John and Thady Gosden trainee faces eight rivals, including last year's G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Wemightakedlongway (Ire) (Australia {GB}), in this Listed Hedge Of Oak...