Midterm up to speed for Newbury triumph

All eyes will be on Midterm at Newbury tomorrow as Sir Michael Stoute’s Classic hope makes his seasonal bow in the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup EBF Stallions Conditions Stakes.

The three-year-old is already as short as 12-1 for the Investec Derby and as a son of Epsom hero Galileo out of multiple Group One winner Midday, he is certainly bred to excel.

Stoute exercised patience with the colt last term, waiting until the dying days of the season before pitching him into a Newbury maiden that has boasted some classy previous victors.

While Midterm only won by a length that day, he looked thoroughly in need of the experience, picking up well from off the pace to win a shade cosily at the line.

He looked a very useful colt that day and while Epsom in June is still a long way off, his big-race entries show the regard in which he is held and the vibes have been positive enough from the Stoute camp.

Gary Moore’s Dutch Masterpiece has shown winning form on testing ground in the past and that factor could prove crucial in the Dubai Duty Free Handicap.

Grumeti returns to the level fit from hurdling in the Compton Beauchamp Estates Ltd Silver Bar Handicap.

His winter over the sticks did not yield much joy so it may be wise to judge him on his latest Flat start, when he ran out a shock 50-1 winner of the Cesarewitch at Newmarket back in October.

Shadow Hunter has been highly tried so far, but she can enjoy her moment in the spotlight in the Listed Whitsbury Manor Stud & EBF Stallions Lansdown Fillies’ Stakes at Bath.