Utopia to make perfect start at Doncaster

Modern Utopia can pick up where she left off in the Watch Unbridled On attheraces.com Handicap at Doncaster on Sunday.

A daughter of Arc hero Sottsass, George Scott's filly was a slow burner last season, but really found her feet once upped in trip and encountering more demanding conditions in the autumn.

Modern Utopia broke her duck with a dominant display in a heavy ground handicap at Nottingham in October and an 8lb rise in the weights was nowhere near enough to stop her following up at Newmarket less than three weeks later as she came home with four lengths in hand without being extended.

She is up another 10lb ahead of her reappearance and has to concede weight all round, but provided the ground stays on the soft side, she could take some stopping if fit enough to do herself justice.

Palmarian is of interest in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Stakes.

Several runners in this 1400m contest have shaped with promise in defeat and it looks sure to throw up multiple future winners.

Palmarian made his debut at Newmarket in the autumn and showed up well for a long way before tiring into fourth place late in the day.

The runner-up Spirit Of Summer has won since and is now rated 90, confirming that Newmarket maiden was typically strong and John and Thady Gosden's Palmarian is clearly open to stacks of improvement ahead of his first start as a three-year-old.

Course and distance winner Fine Interview is the pick in the William Hill More Top Prices Handicap.

This progressive four-year-old made fine progress last season, winning soft ground sprint handicaps at Pontefract and at Doncaster in impressive style.

There is every chance he can up into an even better horse this year and he is fancied to make a successful return.

Quicker ground is forecast over jumps at Ascot, which should play to the strengths of Credo in the Sodexo Live! Veterans' Handicap Chase.

The application of a visor and a return to a sound surface appears to have reinvigorated Anthony Honeyball's mare who has won two of her last three starts.

She won with plenty in hand at Carlisle last weekend and it is no surprise that connections have opted to turn her out quickly under 6lb penalty.

Many of Credo's rivals this weekend are not in such good form and she is difficult to oppose in the hands of Harry Cobden.

Cobden might also find the target aboard the Paul Nicholls-trained Sauvignon in the Sodexo Live! Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

A winner at Listed level over obstacles in France, the four-year-old has been highly tried since moving to Ditcheat, pulling up behind East India Dock in a Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham before faring only slightly better when a well-beaten fourth in the Adonis at Kempton.

On both occasions Sauvignon's finishing effort left plenty to be desired, but he is given another chance as he encounters quicker ground on his first start in a handicap.

The Flat season ramps up a gear in Ireland, with several Classic trials taking place at Leopardstown.

Aidan O'Brien's Breeders' Cup hero Henri Matisse looks the class act on show in the Ballylinch Stud "Red Rocks" Stakes, albeit conceding 3lb to Arizona Blaze is not a straightforward task, while Delacroix can enhance his Derby credentials with victory in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

ASCOT: Race 1 - 15.10 Wicked Thoughts, Race 2 - 15.45 Sauvignon, Race 3 - 16.20 Light N Strike, Race 4 - 16.55 Native Moon, Race 5 - 17.30 Credo, Race 6 - 18.05 Court Cian.

DONCASTER: Race 1 - 14.55 Calanthe, Race 2 - 15.30 MODERN UTOPIA (NAP), Race 3 - 16.05 Palmarian, Race 4 - 16.40 Fine Interview, Race 5 - 17.15 Magico, Race 6 - 17.50 Madame De Sevigne, Race 7 - 18.25 Imperial Guard, Race 8 - 19.00 Glory Hyde.

DOWNPATRICK: Race 1 - 14.45 Arabian Diamond, Race 2 - 15.20 Cher Tara, Race 3 - 15.55 Ciao Adios, Race 4 - 16.30 Out For A Stroll, Race 5 - 17.05 Dunboyne, Race 6 - 17.40 Step Out, Race 7 - 18.15 Last Round.

LEOPARDSTOWN: Race 1 - 15.00 Crystal Ball, Race 2 - 15.35 Henri Matisse, Race 3 - 16.10 Miracle Beauty, Race 4 - 16.45 Delacroix, Race 5 - 17.20 Serious Contender, Race 6 - 17.55 Artful Approach, Race 7 - 18.30 Master Garvey.