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IT’S a huge weekend for the new flat season with the first two classics of the campaign, the 2,000 Guineas (Newmarket, 3.35 Sat) and 1,000 Guineas (3.40, Sun) both over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket.

Unbeaten in three starts as a juvenile, City of Troy has already been massively talked up by Aidan O’Brien as the new super horse of Ballydoyle and to a certain extent he has cemented that opinion on the track.

I was actually most impressed with his second success in the Group Two Superlative Stakes at Newmarket when he beat up with ridiculous ease the subsequent Craven Stakes winner Haatem by six-and-a-half lengths, before landing the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. The son of Justify has a lovely devouring and fluent stride and just keeps on galloping all the way through the line and beyond.

Rated some 8lbs superior to his nearest rival, Rosallion, who landed the third of his wins last year in a record time in the Group One Prix Jean Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, I think he is crying out for a step up to a mile-and-a-quarter at the very least whereas Richard Hannon’s charge looks an out-an-out miler.

Both though are just about where they should be in the market and of course both still need to prove they have trained on, and with Aiden’s yard hardly on fire at the moment, I would rather look elsewhere in the market place for some each-way value.

Night Raider is a hugely likeable sort despite winning just two minor all-weather races, while Ghostwriter will relish the drying ground and Notable Speech has any amount of scope.

However, I think that both Task Force and Iberian have been underestimated in the betting. The first-named looks sure to prove better over this tough mile after being kept to six furlongs on three occasions as a juvenile, culminating in a closing second to Vandeek in the Middle Park Stakes. Going by his breeding the son of Frankel should have no problem with a mile and it is just a case of him being good enough.

IBERIAN beat a below-par Rosallion in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and that was despite the ground being on the soft side for him. His subsequent sixth place behind City of Troy in the Dewhurst Stakes was disappointing, but everything about him suggests he will be a much better three-year-old and that the return to top of the ground will be a massive plus for him, especially racing over a mile for the very first time in his career.

I think he will stay even further with plenty of stamina on both sides of his lines although it is interesting that Charlie Hills has entered him only in the big mile races through the first half of the season.

The supporting card looks a cracker at Headquarters and the race I am particularly looking forward to away from the feature classic is the Extra Place Races Handicap at 1.45. Noble Sky was hugely disappointing on all four starts last season but always looked like a horse that would fill out and become stronger as a four-year-old, and the son of Kingman could well step up on his first run in a handicap, despite his mark being a top-heavy 108. However, with a drying day expected today, I am going to go out on a limb and play with the 25/1 shot TACTICAL.

Raced over seven furlongs and a mile initially in his career, but I have always felt that a stiff six furlongs on good ground will be his preserve. There is a bundle of pace on in this top-class handicap and I want to see David Egan ride him with balls of steel and ride him out the back before asking him to improve running out of the dip.

Yes, he has to improve to win this very competitive class two, but this is the first time in a while he will have several factors in his favour and I prefer him to the likes of Rabaah and the tight fit Mums Tipple. The first-named was difficult for Hills to get right last year, but he apparently has sorted out all his problems and this looks the perfect stepping stone to a shot at the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Later on, former Cambridgeshire hero MAJESTIC looks sure to be in at the sharp end in the Suffolk Stakes at 2.20.

He once again ran a cracker in that autumn race when a strong finishing fourth behind Astro King off 89 and he gets to run from the same rating here following a lovely return behind Hafeet Alain last month, and he is now some 5lbs better off for that length defeat.

TEES SPIRIT needs to take another big step forward to land the Group Three Palace House Stakes at 2.55, but he looked an improved horse over the course and distance some 18 days ago and this doesn’t look the best renewal of this famous sprint event.

As far as the rest of today is concerned, I think we will see a huge run from RACINGBREAKS RYDER in the Thirsk Cup Handicap (2.40). He has been dropped to a very good mark by the handicapper here and was a massive eyecatcher in Newbury’s Spring Cup last time out. Any juice in the ground looks sure to be a plus for him and he gets the nod over the likely favourite and last year’s winner Northern Express, but the latter is a full 9lbs higher.

Over at Goodwood, BREEGE has solid claims in the 2.05, while QUEEN OF THE PRIDE looks a possible massive improver in the Listed fillies’ event at 3.20.

As far as Sunday is concerned, the 1,000 Guineas should go to FALLEN ANGEL. Karl Burke’s charge has reportedly been working out of his skin and I think could be an absolute superstar this season. Any further rain would bring Newbury maiden winner Star Style into the equation. Richard Hannon thinks the latter is a class act, but inexperience may just be his downfall.