March 26 – Naas – Chazzesmee – 94

A smooth winner on his previous outing on the all-weather, Fozzy Stack’s gelding defied a 16lb hike in similarly impressive fashion, and on the evidence of this display, he might be capable of coping with another rise. Quickening well late on, it was noticeable his closing splits were over a second better than the 105-rated Visualisation and that suggests the five-year-old is still very well treated.

March 29 – Navan – French Claim – 100

Disappointing when strongly fancied on his final start last season, Paddy Twomey’s inmate proved that below-par effort was no more than a bump in the road and he looks to be in for a productive campaign with another year under his belt. Third in the Irish Derby, the four-year-old ended up being too aggressively ridden for his own good in the St leger at Doncaster, but under a more patient ride here, he was much more effective. Well suited by plenty of ease underfoot, he cam be placed to best advantage in many of the big staying contests on home soil.

March 30 – Warwick – Diamond Ri – 70

As we know, bumpers, by design, aren’t usually well run, but this contest proved to be the exception to the rule. The front-running Tout Sur Moi ensured the pace was very generous from the start and that strong gallop seemed to really suit Joe Tizzard’s gelding who sauntered into contention approaching the home turn. Once bounding into a clear lead, the son of Diamond Boy strode right away from his toiling rivals and, in maintaining the temp all the way to the line, he ended up posting an extremely fast time. To put into some sort of perspective his performance based on pure numbers, we awarded the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham a 56, so it’s pretty clear we are dealing a potentially special talent. Whether he will run again this season remains to be seen, but either way, this exciting future chasing prospect should turn out to be a force to be reckoned with in novice hurdles next term. One to follow.

March 31 – Dundalk – Buyin Buyin – 91

The Brocklesby once again produced a smart time figure (90), but pride of place in the juvenile category this week came courtesy of this Willie Browne newcomer. Nibbled at in the pre-race markets, the chestnut was notably slowly away but, in making up loads of ground over on the far side in the home straight, he managed to run down a decent-looking field, many of which were well-touted beforehand. A tall, rangy colt with loads of physical scope, the son of Bungle Inthejungle looks to have a bright future based on this promising start.

April 1 – Kempton – Foxes Tales – 100

Having put up a useful effort when posted out wide in the Winter Derby at Lingfield previously, Andrew Balding’s inmate was well-backed to go two places better in this similar contest and he duly made no mistake. Settling well in behind the sound gallop set by Tyrrhenian Sea, the five-year-old stayed on best of all in the short straight to pull nicely clear late on and with no real excuses issued for the rest, his effort reads a totally believable one. Seemingly more focused since being gelded, the son of Zoffany can continue to climb the ladder.

April 1 – Doncaster – Vadream – 107

In a week where there’s been some pretty spectacular performances, we have saved the best till last in the shape of Charlie Fellows’ mare who simply took apart a competitive field of sprinters in the Cammidge Trophy. Fit from the AW and having conditions to suit, the daughter of Brazen Beau could have been fancied on several fronts, but to eventually score in the manner she did was beyond all pre-race expectations even by her most loyal fans. Quickened off a strong pace, she soon put daylight between herself an the rest of the field and without being fully extended, she ran one of the fastest turf figures we’ve awarded any horse in recent times. Clearly extremely ground dependant, connections will be praying races like the Duke Of York, Haydock Park Sprint and the big Group 1 six-furlong contest on Champions Day will are run on soft ground and if so, she will be a huge player whoever shows up.