The Flat season reaches top gear tomorrow with the start of the three-day Craven Meeting at Newmarket.
This kicks-off a week which sees the first of the year's Classic trials, with more of the same scheduled for Newbury and Thirsk on Friday and Saturday.
All eyes will be on the Shadwell Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes tomorrow, a race designed to accomadate hopefuls for next month's Sagitta 1,000 Guineas.
Half Glance, trained by Henry Cecil, has solid claims on the evidence of her solid juvenile form and I fancy her to win this Group 3 event in the hands of Richard Quinn.
A striking-looking filly, Half Glance won two of her three starts last season, including the May Hill Stakes at Doncaster, her only defeat coming in the Ascot Fillies' Mile, when she may have been unsuited by the soft ground. She can make a successful return to action tomorrow.
The £25,000 NGK Spark Plugs Abernant Stakes has attracted a useful field of sprinters, including Invincible Spirit, who receives my vote.
Trained by the in-form John Dunlop, the five-year-old ended last term by winning two of his final three races at Newbury and The Curragh. He looks poised to enjoy another productive campaign.
Prince Hector, a winner on this course last season, makes plenty of appeal as he begins his second term in the williamhill.co.uk Handicap, a wide-open race over seven furlongs.
Richard Quinn takes the mount on Amanda Perratt's lightly-raced three-year-old.
Bravo Ragasso created a good impression when scoring on his debut at Kempton and Mick Channon's colt is napped to follow-up in the Thetford Conditions Stakes.
It took Bravo Ragasso a while to realise what was required of him first time out, but he eventually won with a bit in hand and looks a decent two-year-old in the making. Steve Drowne again has the mount.
Tomorrow's other Flat meeting is at Nottingham, where Tim Easterby's On The Fairway has strong claims in the Ezra Sugden Fillies' Handicap.
The three-year-old won over this course and distance on her reappearance and looks to have every chance of following-up under Paul Eddery.
The Mark Johnston-trained Double Honour (3.35) catches the eye as another likely winner for North Yorkshire at this venue.
Tomorrow's tips:
Newmarket
1.45 - Mr Dinos
2.15 - Invincible Spirit
2.50 - Half Glance
3.25 - Prince Hector
4.00 - Munqith
4.35 - Silistra
5.10 - Bravo Ragasso (Nap)
Nottingham
1.55 - Revenue
2.25 - Smokin Beau
3.00 - On The Fairway
3.35 - Double Honour
4.10 - Il Cavaliere
4.45 - Ginko
5.20 - It's Our Secret
- Tom O'Ryan is the current leading tipster in the Racing Post/Coral Naps competition and his Nap selection for this afternoon's racing is Salim Toto (4.00 Windsor).
Updated: 11:59 Monday, April 15, 2002
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