IT’S Guineas’ Trials weekend at Newbury and I suspect that it could be a cracking day for trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam and her once-raced charge HEAT OF THE MOMENT in the Fred Darling Stakes at 2.25.

The Bobby’s Kitten filly waltzed up in a Yarmouth maiden and although that race hasn’t really worked out, it was the manner of the victory to the eye which really impressed me.

She travelled beautifully under Jim Crowley and when the senior jockey asked the youngster for her effort, she made her rivals look like donkeys.

That six furlongs was always going to be a minimum trip for her, so the extra 220 yards is hugely in her favour and with no superstar filly up against her in this field of 12, I think she can bridge the form and experience gap with her rivals and take care of the likes of Wild Beauty and another once-raced filly, Shaara.

As far as the colts’ trial is concerned, I was split between Perfect Power and ANGEL BLEU. I have decided to throw in with the latter, with the Richard Fahey team finding it hard to find winners.

The selection landed back to back Group One events in France as a juvenile and although a drop of rain would certainly aid his chance in the 3.00, I don’t think he is just a one trick pony, going wise.

The Spring Cup at 3.35 is always regarded as a consolation for those beaten in the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster and the second and third at Town Moor, Saleymm and ROGUE BEAR, could dominate the finish here.

The former had the run of the race up front that day and from a much better draw than his rival, so I fancy the Tom Clover runner to bridge that half-a-length gap from their respective boxes here.

At a price, the other big player could well be the seventh home that day Modern News with senior jockey William Buick taking over from the seven pound claimer Harry Davies.

Elsewhere, on the card at the Berkshire track, have a second look at both THUNDEROUS (nb) in the John Porter Stakes at 1.50 and EAGLE COURT in the finale at 5.55.

The former won the Dante Stakes last season but didn’t really go on from that run, while the last named has finally slipped to what looks a winning handicap mark of 83 and this drop in trip to a fast run mile-and-a-quarter looks spot on for him.

Musselburgh has one of its big days in the sun this afternoon, and the Betway Queen’s Cup (3.14) has always been a favourite event of mine.

Mark Johnston has a great record in this mile-and-three-quarters handicap, and he is represented by last year’s winner Themaxwecan and light weights State of Bliss and Soapy Stevens. However, they could all be trumped by the Richard Hannon trained SIR RUMI.

A cracking second to Raymond Tusk at Doncaster first time up, this will be his first start on good ground over this distance and with only seven starts under his belt he can take another step forward here to land this big prize.

Sprint handicaps are always devilishly hard to forecast at the Edinburgh track, so ZARZYNI is only a tentative selection at 2.39 and a stronger play for me on the card will be French import TASKHEER in the one-mile handicap at 4.57.

He ran a lot better than his finishing position suggests at Southwell, his first since being gelded. That run should have put him spot on for this and if he settles better he could prove to be the best handicapped horse in the field.

It is Challenger Finals day over the sticks at Haydock Park and as always all of the seven races with some cracking prize money up for grabs look hugely competitive.

Working backwards, I am keen on LORD GETAWAY as the value call in the Veteran’s Final at 5.34 with the drying ground most definitely in his favour. He just gets the nod over the well weighted Christmas In April and the consistent Gleno.

Earlier on the card, following a wind operation, ENQARDE can bounce to form in the 3.52 after running well below his best when pulled up in the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase over further at the Merseyside track in February.

COEUR LE LION looks the call in the staying handicap hurdle at 4.29 after finding the ground way too slow last time out, while novice ZABEEL CHAMPION (nap) can trump his more experienced rivals in the two-mile handicap hurdle at 3.19.

Saturday

ZABEEL CHAMPION (NAP)
Haydock Park 3.19

Thunderous (nb)
Newbury 1.50

Sunday

MAKYON (NAP)
1.57 Southwell

Time Leader
Ffos Las 2.05