Etlaala (B Hills)
Once the Godolphin operation bought Shamardal out of Mark Johnston's stable, they appeared to have cornered the market for the 2,000 Guineas.
But their dismay as Shamardal trailed in tamely in the UAE Derby left them with a rethink.
Blues and Royals, the impressive winner at Nad Al Sheba, has a Newmarket option or the Kentucky Derby while lines through the likes of Wilko and Fox suggest current ante-post favourite Dubawi is nothing out of the ordinary.
Therefore, it might be worth taking a chance with Etlaala, an imposing Selkirk colt, sure to be at home over a mile this season.
Eye-catching when winning the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster after getting into lorryloads of trouble, you can forgive his dismal run behind Shamardal in the Dewhurst as he missed the break, pulled hard and didn't get home on unsuitable soft ground.
Able to sit behind a decent pace over a fast straight mile at HQ, he could be a value call for the 2,000 Guineas.
Diktatorial (A Balding)
A horse with plenty of scope who is worth keeping an eye on is this Diktat colt who wound up a promising juvenile career with a smart victory in the Somerville Tattersall Stakes at Newmarket in September.
Given a tender introduction on the July Course, he won his maiden in impressive fashion at Sandown before beating Godolphin's Crimson Sun a neck in that final outing.
There was plenty of money for him that day underlying the confidence of a shrewd stable, who tasted Classic glory with Casual Look in 2003.
Playful Act (J Gosden)
The filly with all the best juvenile form has reportedly wintered well and is sure to be a major player in both the 1,000 Guineas and the Oaks.
Still very green and tenderly handled when beaten in her maiden at Newmarket, she turned the tables on her conqueror Cassydora when winning the May Hill at Doncaster.
Followed that up with another impressive show in taking the Meon Valley Stud Stakes from the consistent Maids Causeway.
By the legendary stallion Sadler's Wells, she has won on fast and soft ground and, given decent luck this season, it is hard to visualise her not making the frame in either of the fillies classics.
Whazzat (B Hills)
On a line through some of the most consistent juveniles last term, Whazzat must be in the mix for the 1,000 Guineas.
She beat Maids Causeway a head in winning her maiden over six furlongs at Newbury in June and followed up a fortnight later in the Chesham at Royal Ascot beating Brecon Beacons three lengths with Breeders Cup juvenile hero Wilko back in third.
She was off for the rest of the season with a stress fracture but being by Daylami, soft ground would do her chances no harm on the day and few in the race have more obvious claims than her on the formbook.
Queen of Poland (D Loder)
Favourite to win that May Hill Stakes before going down by just three-quarters of a length to Playful Act, Queen of Poland was put away for the season by her shrewd trainer and may be a major challenger for either the 1,000 Guineas or the Oaks.
Market leader at Doncaster after two smooth successes over seven furlongs on fast ground at Yarmouth and Sandown, Loder was clearly saving his ammunition for the three-year-old campaign when the filly's sire Halling started to come into his own.
Penkenna Princess (R Beckett)
With at least a dozen fillies having a decent case for playing a major role in the summer classics, it may pay to follow big outsider Penkenna Princess.
Though beaten in a nursery in mid-summer, the Pivotal youngster improved dramatically for a step up to seven furlongs and a bit of cut in the ground.
Staged a shock by winning the Oh So Sharp Stakes, she followed up with an impressive short-head second to Maids Causeway in the Rockfel.
Maids Causeway had chased home Playful Act on more than one occasion and 50/1 quotes about Penkenna Princess for Newmarket seem terrific value.
Albert Hall (A O'Brien)
Motivator was the talk of the Derby after his thrilling victory in the Racing Post Trophy but the second that day Albert Hall may turn the tables over a mile and a half at Epsom in June.
The ground was soft that day and though the Aidan O'Brien colt had proved he handled the easy conditons when winning the Beresford Stakes at the Curragh on his previous outing, a Danehill progeny should be more at home on quicker ground.
He has been staying on strongly over a mile in his juvenile races and should find the extra four furlongs right up his street this summer, especially if rousted along by Epsom specialist Kieren Fallon.
Belenus (S bin Suroor)
Godolpin have yet to cement their worldwide success with a victory in the Epsom Derby so Sheikh Mohammed will be pulling out all the stops especially after Rule of Law went so close last year. They have legions of entries this time around but it might be worthwhile following Belenus despite limited form in the book.
He won his only start on the July Course in a seven-furlong maiden that usually throws up a decent sort and though runner-up Frith failed to win a race for the rest of the season, he contested Group One contests, fifth in the Royal Lodge at Ascot and eighth in the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster.
Backed from 2/1 to 13/8 for that victory, he had obviously shown plenty at home and though being by Dubai Millenium he might not stay the Derby mile and half, the winter favourite is by the same sire and Belenus looks a colt with bags of potential.
Monsoon Rain (S bin Suroor)
While some stables shun the unfashionable St Leger, the Godolphin operation can never be accused of that and, with Rule of Law successful last season, they may follow up with Monsoon Rain.
The American bred chased home another of our Classic fancies Windsor Knot in a seven-furlong Newmarket maiden last August and relished the extra furlong when edging out Shannon Springs at Doncaster the following month when well supported in the market.
May well be aimed first at a Derby but the one mile six furlongs of the Town Moor may ultimately be the right race for him.
Comic Strip (Sir M Prescott)
A horse that started his career over six furlongs on the all-weather at Southwell is not the most obvious choice for the final Classic but Comic Strip ended the season as the most prolific staying juvenile in training.
Beaten only once in six outings in a muddling affair at Beverley, this Marju colt graduated from nurseries at Chester and Ayr to a Listed win at Pontefract.
He has won on all types of grounds and looked better the further he went.
His astute handler may well aim this rapid improver at the likes of the Northumberland Plate and the Ebor but he cannot be ruled out if he turns up at Doncaster in September.
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