Peter Naughton's Notebook: Eyecatchers and horses to follow from the TV presenter and tipster
I presented Racing TV from Nottingham on Saturday when Hundred Isles was particularly impressive in the extended 1m handicap.
Mick Channon's highly progressive four-year-old made all at Chelmsford two weeks earlier but took a lead here before finding a very good turn of foot.
I interviewed winning jockey Charles Bishop afterwards and he revealed: "We were very confident he'd defy the rise in the weights. He's a jockey's dream and can progress through the grades."
Notebook horse Tweet Tweet (10/1) impressed Paul Hanagan when producing blistering speed in the three-year-old 5f handicap.
After comfortably beating geldings, the former dual champion jockey said: "I was taken aback by her amazing speed at York (form working out well) last year and although she was extremely rapid today, I could have gone even quicker; she's all speed."
The time was just outside the course record and Tweet Tweet looks seriously well handicapped off 78. This won't be her last win and Declan Carroll's filly was cleary a fabulous buy at only 800 guineas.
Balding has Royal Ascot project
King's Lynn ran a fine race on reappearance when a close third in the 5f handicap at Newbury on Friday. Andrew Balding's progressive five-year-old was running for the first time in 175 having been gelded but his best performances have been at 6f.
He looks an ideal type for the Wokingham at Royal Ascot and similar valuable handicaps beyond the minimum trip. Showing enough pace to lead, the selection was joined three-out and pushed along before the two-furlong pole. Ridden and headed inside the final furlong, the well bred son of Cable Bay lost second close home. There is plenty more to come.
Later on that card, Invincible Lass made a pleasing debut when eighth in the 7f fillies' maiden. Marco Botti's well bred daughter of Invincible Spirit missed a beat at the start and was held up in rear.
Green and pushed along three-out, she responded well to pressure and ran on past beaten horses to finish a never-nearer eighth. She will show the benefit of this experience and surely win races.
Bought for 40,000 guineas as a yearling, this quality filly is a half sister to middle-distance winner Ply and 3m hurdle winner Polish. Hollie Doyle's booking looked significant (6-29 for the stable in the last four years) and she gave Invincible Lass a very good introductory ride.
Kingsofthemidlands was heavily backed in the 1m Wood Ditton maiden at Newmarket on Thursday. This race often produces progressive types and Andrew Balding's son of Kingman will build on his very promising close debut fifth.
He's a brother to French 1m winner Bowled Over and a half-brother to French 2m1f hurdle winner; the dam won over 1m at two and was Listed-placed and is a sister to 1,000 Guineas third Moth. Bought for 600,000 guineas, Kingsofthemidlands holds an entry in the Derby.
Silvestre de Sousa was keen to settle his mount behind rivals from stall one and this strong galloper responded to pressure, despite taking a few strides to hit top speed.
Across the card, Zabeel Champion continued Mark Johnston's fine form with success in the valuable Ripon Silver Bowl. Racing just behind the leaders, Ben Curtis switched left to gain a clear run over two-out and his mount found instant acceleration.
Always on top in the final furlong, he was good value for a three-parts-of-a-length success and won't go up much in the weights.
The winner of a heritage handicap at Newmarket's July meeting, the classy colt went close in a competitive three-year-old handicap at Glorious Goodwood last term and his reappearance second to in-form United Front reads well.
Curtis revealed just how much horse he had under him in the Ripon race: "I needed a gap but it's easy when you've got plenty of horse. He wasn't suited by Chelmsford last time but is a good imposing horse with good breeding, so will improve."
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