Fahey holds whiphand in opening onslaught

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His trainer said: “He looks a picture and I have been very pleased with his work. This seems a sensible starting point where I hope he can get his head back in front before stepping back up in grade in due course.

“He has some exceptional form in the book and was not beaten far by the likes of Zelzal, Ribchester and Minding last year, so I am hoping that he can get his season off to the perfect start.”

Stormy Antarctic will head to Hong Kong for the Champions Mile on 7 May if he wins today.

For the first time in its 168-year history, the famous Brocklesby Stakes has been divided.

Based on complex rules relating to race divisions, the conditions race for twoyear-olds has split into two 11-runner events.

ALMANE (4.10) should make a decent fist of landing the first division for Fahey and jockey Paul Hanagan – and is reported to have done well at home. The pair teamed up to win the race with Mister Hardy (2007) and Chiswick Bey in 2010. At Kempton, BIG COUNTRY (3.15) could be seriously well handicapped in the ultracompetitive Betfred “Home of the Goals Galore” Rosebery Handicap. The son of High Chaparral moved to Mick Appleby from Charles O’Brien in February and got off the mark at Wolverhampton with an easy seven-length win. He has been raised 9lb but the way he won suggests there is more to come and he slips in at bottom weight here. He also has the assistance of champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa, who has been banging in the winners since returning from Hong Kong. De Sousa can land a double with AMLAD (1.30) in the opener while GLOBAL ALEXANDER (3.50), who was well backed on her racecourse debut when inched out close home, can go one better.