Horses To Follow For The Flat Season

First on the list is the Karl Burke-trained Kadar, who we saw race just once as a two-year-old last season.

That display came courtesy of a victory at Haydock, when lowering the colours of Waldstern and Frankie Dettori – who has been sent off the 4/7 favourite.

Arguably Kadar – a son of the late Scat Daddy looked much more like the natural, and scored in a Class Four Novice Stakes under Clifford Lee.

Stretching out towards the finish, he is definitely one to keep an eye on this season for the Phoenix Thoroughbred Limited, who do have a few good ones.

Space Blues is another who has only been sighted once on the racecourse - an impressive display at Nottingham in November.

A two-year-old who certainly took his time to develop, is Irish bred and trained by leading British-man Charlie Appleby, who we identified as a trainer to watch in 2019 as well.

Space Blues is out of Dubawi x Miss Lucifier, so is open to plenty of potential down the line over the mile division.

An exciting Godolphin recruit.

Godolphin can also be inflamed over the prospect of Zakouski - who was another late arrival to the scene for last year's Derby winning trainer Charlie Appleby.

James Doyle may have a battle on his hands if Space Blues and Zakouski line up in the same race, with Zakouski too suiting a mile.

One race so far in public – a victory at Kempton on debut at the end of November, when striding clear of the Roger Charlton-trained Headman.

Smart prospect in the making.

King’s Vow did not handle the turf on his first three starts for Joseph O’Brien, and showed plenty signs of greenness, but has been a revelation since switching to the all-weather.

Both starts on the Tapeta have been at Dundalk; a close second to Jessica Harrington’s Calling Time in a Nursery, before landing a similar contest just two weeks after.

Bolstered his confidence as a result, and appears to now be getting the hang of things.

Big season could be ahead for a young aspiring trainer.

Some of Ralph Beckett’s two-year old’s flopped last season when much was expected of them, but the outlier in that category is certainly the filly Dancing Vega.

The fillies’ Classic division looks wide open this season, and she could be a late surger towards the Guineas after her readily success at Doncaster back in October.

Will surely come on from that effort despite the Winter break, and a future star perhaps if fulfilling the potential we have seen so far.

Bielsa is one of the older horses we are looking out for this term – only due to the fact he remains lightly race after a lengthy absence at the beginning of his career.

He did not make his debut until as three-year-old late on last season, but did strike for Kevin Ryan at the first time of asking at Redcar under the equally-promising Kevin Stott.

Kept on well that day, and although may not be campaigned at the top, is a name to look out for if primarily hunting for winners.

Silver River is even older than Bielsa, and heads into this season as a standout five-year-old to look out for.

As is the case for the latter, he has a low mileage and has only been sighted three times – all of which in South-West London at Kempton.

Third on debut, he raced at the same venue twice again in the next six weeks and prevailed in both – the pair in Novice affairs.

Saeed bin Suroor has been rather quiet in Britain in the last couple of years, so will be hoping for a change in fortunes.

You could now be reading about your future Derby winner in the shape of Japan, who after a lacklustre seventh on debut, has won twice stylishly since for man of the moment - Aiden O’Brien.

Found another gear at Listowel in September to get back up under Donnacha O’Brien suggesting a staying trip could be down the line, before scoring in first-time Group Two at Naas just three weeks later, beating a much more experienced horse.

Interesting, and could be the yard’s number one Classic contender at Epsom.

Son of Galileo; who of course won the 1m4f showpiece back in 2001.

Richard Hannon has the filly Alhakmah to look forward in the months ahead; a grand-daughter of the late Scat Daddy.

Two performances so far, second in both at Goodwood and at Newbury.

Punters may recall her debut, when she was sent off the 4/1 favourite at the Glorious meeting, and was beaten by the applicably-named Feel Glorious at odds of 125/1.

Settled for second best in Berkshire back in August, behind a horse who went onto compete at Group level.

Her time could be now.