Incroyable - Sir Mark Prescott
This stoutly-bred four-year-old should be interesting this season with the prospect of stepping up to staying trips sure to bring about more improvement. Housed with the master of handicapping, Incroyable won a ten-furlong contest off a mark of 59 last September before flopping as favourite on her last start at Epsom a fortnight later. Whether a problem came to light or whether the undulating track did not suit, she looks well worth persevering with and it would be no shock to see the grey rack up a string of handicap victories.
Tractor Boy - William Haggas
A Windsor maiden in October saw Tractor Boy break his duck and he looks capable of further progress from a reasonable mark. He had clearly benefited from a rather clueless debut at the track and stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Holly Springs. A seventh furlong will not be a problem but he is not devoid of pace either so a sprinting campaign could be on the agenda.
Literatim - Luca Cumani
The son of Polish Precedent might be five now but remains very unexposed having had just five runs in his career. He rounded off last season with a third in a decent York heat and he is certainly in the right hands to add to his lone victory to date. His best efforts have been at a mile but do not rule out him getting a bit further. He pulled too hard for his own good when tried over 10 furlongs and that could be within his compass as he matures and learns to settle.
Worcester Lodge - Roger Charlton
Worcester Lodge was a big disappointment when sent off favourite against his elders at Kempton in August and connections were unable to offer an explanation. Perhaps it was the soft ground that night as he had previously caught the eye when winning well in a run-of-the-mill event at Newmarket on fast ground. He starts the season on a very handy mark and it would be no surprise to see him rise up the handicapping ranks over middle distances.
Alfonso - Barry Hills
The four-year-old is a full brother to the stable's Lincoln winner Pablo and a decent handicap at around a mile looks to be his for the taking. He won nicely in a big field at the back end of 2004 and then made an encouraging return to action when third behind Nero's Return at Pontefract. One thing to bear in mind - he does need the ground to be riding on the easy side to be seen at his best.
Batik - Luca Cumani
Batik was the winner of a modest maiden at Bath in September so subsequently the official rating she has been handed is certainly not too penal. Her trainer tried her in handicap company on her next start but lack of pace in the race proved her undoing but she was not discredited when finishing fifth, beaten just one and three quarter lengths. With another winter on her back, she has the potential to set up a sequence over middle distances.
Far Pavilions - Alan Swinbank
The six-year-old has had his share of injury problems but looks set to make up for lost. He made up into a reallly decent juvenile hurdler a couple of seasons ago (beaten a neck by Crystal D'Ainay) and he could also make a mark on the level judged on a solid win at Catterick over some moderate but in-form rivals. He does need top of the ground to be seen at his best and a race like the Chester Cup could be right up his street, where he would be one of the bottom weights.
Jimmy Ryan - Tim McCarthy
A combination of dropping back to five furlongs and learning to settle saw Tim MCarthy's son of Orpen strike form with some purpose at the height of last summer. He scooped two handicaps in just over a month on fast ground at big tracks and looks capable of adding to that tally when returning to the fray. He is powerfully made and is well up to carrying weight before moving into a higher grade.
Alinda - Walter Swinburn
The Choirboy has taken over the helm from Peter Harris and looks to have a decent weapon to go to war with in handicaps in the shape of this Revoque filly. She has been seen just four times on the track and boasts a 75 percent strike rate, two of which came last season. Swinburn has admitted that she has suffered with back problems but thinks her mark of 76 is extremely interesting. There are races to be won if all remains well.
Queen Tomyra - Luca Cumani
The daughter of Montjeu is bred for middle distances and handicaps over those trips will surely be high on the agenda this season. Off the mark in a nursery over an extended mile at the end of November at Wolverhampton, she can only improve when upped in trip. Her victory that day was off a rating of just 72 and her handler will no doubt find at least one or two winning openings.
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