Zanndabad can strike a blow for Ireland in the JenningsBet Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Saturday.
It seems an oddity the Plate so rarely goes to an Irish-trained winner. Not since 2008 has the 'Pitmen's Derby' been won by the Irish and that was with Tony Martin's Arc Bleu.
So who better than to side with than Martin to do it again? Zanndabad has always been the type to be fancied in this sort of race, but in fact has not won since moving to Ireland from France in December 2022.
However, he only just missed out in last year's Chester Cup off his current mark of 92 and his reappearance outing at the Curragh at the beginning of this month had its merit.
He was only seventh past the post, but had travelled nicely for a long way and twice met interference inside the 400m marker, after which he was eased with his chance gone.
He is sure to be better for blowing the cobwebs away after 136 days off and Martin has hit the target enough by now to make anything he runs in a big handicap worthy of respect.
Spycatcher is strongly fancied to go close in the main event on the Plate undercard, the JenningsBet Chipchase Stakes.
Karl Burke's seven-year-old is fully exposed now but hardly ever runs a bad race and is generally best at 1200m. His record shows only one win from seven tries on the all-weather, but that is not a true measure of his capabilities.
He undoubtedly should have won a big conditions race here a few years ago and was second in this race to the smart Tiber Flow in 2023. His two runs this year suggest he is as good as ever.
On a busy afternoon, Formal has to be followed in the Al Basti Equiworld Criterion Stakes at York.
She looked like she might make a Guineas filly such was the impression she created on her first two starts for Sir Michael Stoute, although the wheels came off a bit on her final run at two when only fourth in the Rockfel at Newmarket.
Moved to Andrew Balding on the retirement of Stoute, she was down the field in the Fred Darling but bounced back to more like the filly she looked like being in the Surrey Stakes at Epsom - form already boosted by well-held runner-up Saqqara Sands.
On a similar theme, another ex-Stoute runner in action for Formal's owners Cheveley Park Stud is the William Haggas-trained Archivist in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Mile Handicap.
He got off the mark for his new yard with an authoritative win in a Leicester maiden, as odds of 2-5 suggested he would. Haggas might have some fun with him in handicaps.
Haggas and jockey Tom Marquand might even double up, as Brotherhood Of Man looks a big player in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Novice Stakes for the King and Queen.
He was something of an eyecatcher first time up at Haydock and should be all the better for the experience.
A classy card at the Curragh is headlined by the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes, where Kalpana sets the standard having finished last year in the Group One winner's circle and doing little wrong in her reappearance third to Los Angeles and Anmaat over this course and distance in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. - Press Association
SELECTIONS:
CHESTER: Race 1 - 15.00 Angel Of Anfield, Race 2 - 15.30 Mister Winston, Race 3 - 16.05 Solar Aclaim, Race 4 - 16.35 Ghaiyaa, Race 5 - 17.10 Catalyse, Race 6 - 17.45 Marbuzet, Race 7 - 18.20 Patagonia Girl.
CURRAGH: Race 1 - 14.15 Dorset, Race 2 - 14.45 Beautify, Race 3 - 15.20 Flushing Meadows, Race 4 - 15.55 Layfayette, Race 5 - 16.30 Kalpana, Race 6 - 17.05 Masoun, Race 7 - 17.40 Cold Hearted, Race 8 - 18.15 Naples.
DONCASTER: Race 1 - 18.50 Jungle Land, Race 2 - 19.25 Shavkat, Race 3 - 20.00 Zappata, Race 4 - 20.30 Besondere, Race 5 - 21.00 Daring Legend, Race 6 - 21.30 Stellarmasterpiece, Race 7 - 22.00 Hale End.
LINGFIELD: Race 1 - 18,35 Pigeon House, Race 2 - 19.10 Voix De Bocelli, Race 3 - 19.45 Hot Dancer, Race 4 - 20.15 India Love, Race 5 - 20.45 The Coffee Pod, Race 6 - 21.15 Claim That Smile, Race 7 - 21.45 Sabrimento.
NEWCASTLE: Race 1 - 14.40 Drama, Race 2 - 15.10 SPYCATCHER (NAP), Race 3 - 15.40 Godsend, Race 4 - 16.15 Zanndabad, Race 5 - 16.45 Native Warrior, Race 6 - 17.25 Ninth Crusade, Race 7 - 18.00 Lenny's Spirit, Race 8 - 18.30 Secret Rock.
WINDSOR: Race 1 - 14.35 Clipsham Noble, Race 2 - 15.15 Amorim, Race 3 - 15.50 Antrim, Race 4 - 16.25 Andaleep, Race 5 - 17.00 The Flying Seagull, Race 6 - 17.35 Luisa, Race 7 - 18.10 Coolagh Magic.
YORK: Race 1 - 14.55 Archivist, Race 2 - 15.25 Formal, Race 3 - 16.00 Regal Envoy, Race 4 - 16.40 Brotherhood Of Man, Race 5 - 17.15 Gravitas, Race 6 - 17.50 Lord Roxby, Race 7 - 18.25 Westernesse.