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2.35: Plenty of potential on show here, but with only one of the runners having raced as many as three times a lot of guesswork is involved in finding a backable selection. Hamdan Al Maktoum's pair ATAARED and Istibshar may dominate the betting and with the sheikh's No 1 rider, Willie Carson, partnering the former, the hint should be taken.
3.05: MIDHISH may have the edge in a sprint which brings together some closely-matched horses. There is little to choose between Ben Hanbury's four-year-old and Montendre judged on two encounters last autumn. But a final run in France suggested that the selection may have more scope for improvement and an easy Kempton win at Easter will have put him right for this. Rafferty's Rules is clearly talented and was unlucky not to beat Amron and Montendre on his seasonal debut at Doncaster. But that was not the first time he has managed to encounter trouble in running and he is unlikely to represent much value at around 4-1.
3.40: The international classifications show MEHTHAAF best at the weights in the first of the major domestic Classic trials and it is her form in France which gives her a major chance. She was third to Sierra Madre in the Prix Marcel Boussac, a race favoured by John Dunlop for his top juvenile fillies. This one may not be in the same bracket as his 1,000 Guineas winners Salsabil and Shadayid, but could deflate the aspirations of today's rivals who are headed by Fairy Heights. The Ascot Fillies' Mile winner may struggle to give the weight away over the shorter distance. Michael Stoute often uses this race as a showcase for a lightly raced filly with Guineas pretentions, but the form of Ballerina's maiden win last summer does not bear much scrutiny. Red Rita, runner- up in the Princess Margaret Stakes and to Lemon Souffle in the Cherry Hinton Stakes last summer, has strong each-way claims.
4.15: Despite having 12 outings last year, CHATHAM ISLAND seemed to improve when winning his final two runs. Significantly, his other success came first time out, so lack of a run may not pose a problem and the 11-1 morning-line odds with William Hill look reasonable. Wainwright has the benefit of a run and did well to be third in the Lincoln. He remains nicely handicapped. Swift Silver, who is 5-1 favourite in William Hill's betting, is also race fit and could not have been more impressive in winning Kempton's Rosebery Handicap by 10 lengths. That was on soft ground, and the quick-drying Rowley Mile may be less to his liking. Let's Get Lost was well down the field on his seasonal debut, but the bookmakers are taking no chances with this runner from the shrewd Ramsden stable and he is priced up among the market leaders.
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