Top commentator Simon Holt previews day two of the Craven Meeting at Newmarket including the Nell Gwyn.
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Assessing rates of development when horses reappear as three-year-olds is never easy so Wednesday's Group Three Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes, a trial for the 1000 Guineas, looks a tricky puzzle.
On last year's form, however, ROLY POLY is the one to beat even though collared by stable-companion Brave Anna in the Group One Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs here last September, but Ryan Moore's mount probably paid the price for chasing the flying Lady Aurelia that day leaving her vulnerable at the finish.
Although Brave Anna had previously won at Royal Ascot, Roly Poly's form was better during the summer as she won the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes on the July course before finishing second to Queen Kindly in the Lowther at York.
The daughter of War Front didn't seem to stay the turning mile in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita in early November but, alternatively, may have been feeling the effects of her races. This could be a good chance for her provided she has trained on and, on that point, there is every hope she will given that her dam Misty For Me won the Irish 1000 Guineas.
In contrast to Roly Poly, the French challenger Pamplemousse is a complete unknown quantity bar the fact that she cantered home in a race for unraced fillies at Chantilly just over a fortnight ago.
Trainer Andre Fabre seldom sends horses to these shores if they are not highly regarded but one would assume this to be a steep rise in class. At this stage, she could be anything.
Amongst the others, Poet's Vanity looked a progressive filly in her three juvenile starts, losing her maiden tag by ten lengths at Salisbury and then decisively landing the Group Three Oh So Sharp Stakes (Unforgetable Filly third) over this course and distance in early October.
On form, she has a bit to find with Roly Poly and Brave Anna, but Andrew Balding's filly made an excellent impression that day and there is every reason to believe she will make further strides this season.
Meanwhile, Sea Of Grace makes her first appearance for William Haggas having been moved from John Oxx since last season when she beat the subsequent Group Three winner Eziyra on the last two of her three starts. She too could find more improvement as a three-year-old.
Earlier, BRAVERY is taken to confirm the very strong impression of his Lincoln win in the the Group Three bet365 Earl Of Sefton Stakes.
Formerly with Aidan O'Brien and disappointing after finishing fourth behind Awtaad in last year's Irish 2000 Guineas, the son of Galileo bounced back to form at Doncaster on his first start for David O'Meara.
Switched sharply left leaving the stalls so as to race on the best ground, Bravery came from last place to first in the season's first major handicap and hit the line hard suggesting that an extra furlong here will suit him well. The runner-up Oh This Is Us has won since.
Likely favourite Folkswood appears to have improved in three starts in Meydan during the winter, winning a nine-furlong handicap off a mark of 104 before splitting Decorated Knight and Muffri'ha in the Group One Jebel Hatta in which he was worn down close home.
However, his British form last season was less good and he needs to confirm that progress back on these shores.
Stable companion Viren's Army also came good in Dubai winning a mile-and-a-quarter handicap at Meydan in February having been purchased by Godolphin since winning the Dee Stakes at Chester last May after which he was sidelined.
The reappearing Cambridgeshire winner Spark Plug ran well first time out when second in the Spring Cup at Newbury two seasons ago but needs to prove he can make the jump to pattern company as do Sir Michael Stoute's promising pair Abdon and Autocratic, two likely improvers this term.
Preview posted at 1045 BST on 18/04/2017
