Richard Hannon's Law Court showed plenty on his debut in what could turn out to be a hot little race and he looks the pick in the Home-Start West Berkshire Maiden Stakes at Newbury on Thursday.
Owned by Al Shaqab Racing, the Blue Point colt holds an entry in races like the Royal Lodge and the Dewhurst to suggest he has been showing plenty at home. He would have to win impressively to be considered for those, but he could be a nice prospect in the making.
Drawn in stall one out on a wing first time here, he did as so many do on debut and ducked left, giving away a few lengths, but he was soon back on an even keel at the head of affairs.
The winner, Venetian Prince, had previously finished sixth in what to date looks the hottest maiden run anywhere this season at Newmarket, won by Godolphin's Distant Storm, subsequently third in the Acomb with Futurity Stakes winner Constitution River in second.
The second from Law Court's debut had previously gone close at Ascot and is rated 82 so if Law Court sharpens up, which Hannon's juveniles tend to, he should prove tough to beat.
Roger Varian's Tarot reappears at the same course and distance over which she made such a promising debut in July and she can go one better in the first division of the IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned daughter of Starspangledbanner went down by 0.75-lengths to Sapphire Steps, who has been highly tried since in Group Three and Listed races and was not disgraced in the big sales race at Newmarket last weekend.
Tarot has been fitted with a hood by Varian for this second outing and given her dam is closely related to Inspiral, if she wins she becomes a valuable prospect.
Cheveley Park have a newcomer who looks of interest in the second division, too, in Andrew Balding's Imperial Ballet.
She is a Blue Point filly who is a half-sister to Clive Cox's Positive who won the 2019 Solario Stakes, beating Kameko.
Harriet Bethell has enjoyed a good 2025 and is operating at nearly a 20 percent strike-rate.
City Captain has been a good servant, winning three already since being bought by The Horse Watchers out of Sylvester Kirk's yard.
He started off on a basement mark of 54 and is now up to 68 which is high enough to get him in the 1200m handicap on the final night of the Racing League at Southwell.
The standout at Chelmsford looks to be Simon and Ed Crisford's Estmrar in the Paddy Power Maiden Stakes, while at Ffos Las Gouken would not be winning out of turn after two good efforts to date ahead of the BetWright Bet The Wright Way Maiden Stakes. - Press Association
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings on Thursday. Here are the tips.
FFOS LAS: Race 1: 15.10 Gouken, Race 2: 15.40 French Affair, Race 3: 16.10 Red Walls, Race 4: 16.40 Klassleader, Race 5: 17.10 Echo Of Glory, Race 6: 17.40 Mind Hunter.
CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 15.20 Too Hot To Love, Race 2: 15.50 Shahik, Race 3: 16.20 Moonlight Bomb, Race 4: 16.50 Mc Loven, Race 5: 17.20 Estmrar, Race 6: 17.55 Foinix.
NEWBURY: Race 1: 17.15 Zipwire, Race 2: 17.48 LAW COURT (NAP), Race 3: 18.20 Tarot, Race 4: 18.55 Imperial Ballet, Race 5: 19.25 War Howl, Race 6: 20.00 Isabella Castile, Race 7: 20.30 Masterinthewoods.
SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 18.45 Secret Beach, Race 2: 19.15 Yaaser, Race 3: 19.45 City Captain, Race 4: 20.15 Artisan Dancer, Race 5: 20.45 On The River, Race 6: 21.15 Educator, Race 7: 21.45 Tan Rapido.
ALL TO COME: Estmrar (Chelmsford, Race 5) and Law Court (Newbury, Race 2).