Simon Holt previews Saturday's feature action as he tackles the Lincoln and the Spring Mile as the Flat turf season begins at Doncaster.
Tackling the twin peaks of the 32Red Lincoln and it's poorer cousin the 32Red.com Spring Mile at Doncaster on Saturday is probably the tipping equivalent of climbing Everest once and then doing it again.
As ever, both races serve up hugely competitive contests on the first day of the Flat turf season, but your intrepid correspondent will stick with the possible class horses.
Top weight in the 32Red Lincoln is David O'Meara's French import LORD GLITTERS who showed a high level of form in three starts in the UK last autumn chasing home the progressive Accidental Agent in a seven-furlong handicap at Ascot, then producing an impressive late run to win on the same course (1m soft) before being beaten a neck by Bravo Zolo in a listed race at Newmarket.
It's possible the five-year-old had excuses on that final start when sent off 4-5 favourite as the race was run at an unsuitably slow pace and he was having his third race in just under a month.
Even so, the winner was rated 4lb superior to Lord Glitters and has since run up to that level in Dubai.
It wouldn't be a complete surprise if this is the last time the selection runs in a handicap as he looks a black type horse in the making, and he can make light of 9st10lb here under conditions which suit him well.
O'Meara is also represented by last year's winner Bravery who, despite being discarded by stable jockey Danny Tudhope this time, must have chances again off a 5lb lower mark than 12 months ago.
Now gelded, the five-year-old was none too consistent after his big win but again ran well on the course (in soft ground) when fifth over a too-short seven furlongs here in November.
Meanwhile, it is no surprise to see improving types such as Fire Brigade (the mount of Ryan Moore) and Addeybb at the top of the market even though their final wins in 2017 were only gained narrowly while Big Country, a particularly imposing type, must also be considered after his dropped-in-trip reappearance win at Wolverhampton even if soft ground here might not be ideal.
Earlier, TAQDEER could be thrown-in at the weights in the Spring Mile.
John Gosden's gelding comes with risks attached having been off the course for just under two years but a handicap mark of 95 could easily under-estimate him on defeats of Mushtashry (ended last season on 112) and the now high-class Poet's Word (119) at Chelmsford in April 2016 and of Prize Money (now 115) in a handicap at Newmarket the following month.
Clearly, those horses have improved a good deal since but, if anywhere near that level, Taqdeer must go close.
The danger could be Original Choice, despite missing his intended prep-run at Wolverhampton due to a minor setback two weeks ago.
William Haggas' gelding was quite progressive last season chasing home Dan Troop (winner next time) and Century Dream in handicaps at Chester on his last two starts, and a mile with some cut in the ground are probably ideal conditions.
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