Copper Knight is capable of making amends for an extremely unlucky defeat nine days ago, when tackling seven rivals for the prestigious Lily Agnes Stakes over five furlongs of 'good to soft' Chester this afternoon.
There is an air of great expectation, this first day of the May meeting, around an historic Roodee 'frying pan' circuit, heralds a series of classic trials which lead up to the Epsom Derby next month.
Plenty of reputations will be enhanced, and shattered, spring is definitely in the air and it's significantly warmer, not before time.
Seconditis has again been plaguing my naps but patience is the supreme virtue, just a question of realising that our tried and tested approach always pays off, however it was extremely vexing at Windsor last week when twice-raced Copper King experienced a narrow defeat, by virtue of veering right across the track under Steve Drowne, should have won easily.
Significantly Drowne is replaced by James Doyle.
On the time-handicap Fiery Character, game winner at Newmarket on debut last month, is a likely problem and indeed there are five winners in the line-up but Copper King justifies serious each-way support, providing they all run.
Once-raced Exoteric has a gilt-edged opportunity in the six-runner Maiden Stakes over ten furlongs, earlier this week we were assured this Khaled Abdulla-owned Champs Elysees colt is in good form and strongly-fancied by the Charles Hills camp.
Certainly his debut was full of promise, one-hundred and twenty-six days ago, Exoteric, a 10/1 chance, mainly due to being drawn worst on Wolverhampton Tapeta, made good headway down the far straight and stayed on strongly, beaten only two lengths, in a useful mile maiden race. Betting forecasts suggest Mulk will be odds-on, Sir Michael Stoute's charge was beaten only three-quarters of a lengths by Sky Kingdom in the Wood Ditton at Newmarket last month, a race run over the Rowley Mile for un-raced three-year-olds. Sky Kingdom ran well in an HQ handicap last Saturday but that previous HQ form meant nothing, slow time and surrounded by a clutch of no hopers and non-triers!
A more serious rival might be Godolphin-owned newcomer, Huge Future, by Shamardal, a 'favourite' sire whose progeny usually smack of quality.
On the time-handicap and supported by encouraging reports Exoteric is an obvious each-way fancy, hopefully Darryll Holland will be positive, from the outset.
Somehow we don't think Aidan O'Brien's charge will have problems supplementing recent gains in a weak-looking Cheshire Oaks over twelve furlongs. If she can't win this!