O’brien’s colt to come forward

● Western Australia’s form franked and he will benefit from recent Dundalk run

With a run under his belt, Western Australia can win the Bet365 Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

Aidan O’brien’s colt spent his juvenile year mixing it with some of the best around, and he certainly was not disgraced. His fourth-placed finish in the Autumn Stakes behind Persian King and Magna Grecia – who went on to claim Group One glory – reads very well in the context of this event.

Western Australia actually ran way above market expectations when third in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, won by Magna Grecia, and, with that in mind, it was a little disappointing he could not win on his reappearance at Dundalk.

He finished second behind Playa Del Puente, who has since been sold to race abroad out of Michael Halford’s yard.

Nevertheless, O’brien’s string invariably come forward for a run. So, on that basis, he should take all the beating.

Mot Juste can win the Lanwades Stud Nell Gywn Stakes for Roger Varian.

Varian traditionally starts the season well, and did so at Doncaster, so there are fewer worries about a horse being ready first time out with one from his yard.

Mot Juste’s first two runs were pretty inauspicious, but then the penny seemed to drop. She won a Beverley novice race by seven lengths, and then took a huge step forward to win the Oh So Sharp Stakes on her final juvenile outing.

This represents another big ask but Varian has spoken about her in glowing terms recently, and she looks worth siding with.

Kuwait Currency can win the Bet365 European Free Handicap for Richard Hannon. Having disappointed on his debut, he then bolted up by six lengths at Lingfield before winning a Listed race at Salisbury. Outclassed in two Group Ones after that, it means he starts this season with a workable handicap mark, and Hannon clearly feels he can do some damage off it this season.

Desert Doctor flew from the rear all too late last time out at Kempton and might still be ahead of his mark in the Weatherbys TBA Handicap.

The four-year-old has done all his winning on the allweather, but he does have the odd good run on turf to his credit – suggesting he can be just as effective.

Meanwhile, Zakouski will face nine rivals when he bids to provide Charlie Appleby with a second successive victory in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

The local handler saddled Masar to win the recognised trial for the Qipco 2000 Guineas last season. The New Approach colt went on to finish third in the Rowley Mile Classic before claiming Investec Derby glory at Epsom.

Zakouski created a big impression when making a successful racecourse debut at Kempton in November – and while he faces a big step up in class on his first start on turf, he is set to go off favourite for tomorrow’s one-mile Group Three.

The standard is set by another Godolphin runner in Saeed bin Suroor’s Royal Marine. The son of Raven’s Pass rounded off his juvenile campaign with a Group One success at Parislongchamp, but does need to bounce back from a disappointing first run of 2019 on the dirt at Meydan.

The William Haggas-trained Skardu, Hugo Palmer’s Set Piece, Gay Kelleway’s Global Spectrum and Jackstar from Tom Dascombe’s yard all put their unbeaten records on the line.