Invincible Army's brother among the newcomers on a chock-a-block Thursday

There will be many wondering whether we really need, or want, seven meetings in Britain and Ireland of a Thursday, including three all-weather. Still, it is what it is, and there is certainly plenty of Marking Your Card material.

Perhaps most eyecatching of the newcomers across the two nations on this busy day is New York City, trained by Aidan O’Brien and who is introduced at Dundalk in the 6f maiden (4.30). It’s a race most punters will believe he can win.

The juvenile son of Invincible Spirit cost 600,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1 last autumn. Out of Diktat mare Rajeem, he was bred by Tinnakill Bloodstock and Jack Cantillon and is a brother to high-class sprinter Invincible Army.

Invincible Army, who now stands at Yeomanstown, was a three-time Group 3 winner, though his biggest triumph came in the Group 2 Duke of York Stakes of 2019.

Like her son, Rajeem raced in the colours of Saeed Manana, and she flew even higher, winning the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes.

Her latest progeny to race should take all the beating under Wayne Lordan.

O’Brien’s son Joseph introduces a three-year-old son of Frankel later on the Dundalk card. Stour is out of Tiger Hill mare Moment In Time, whose four victories were topped by the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes.

Stour begins his career over a suitable-looking extended ten furlongs in the maiden at 6.30, in which he is set to face seven rivals under Shane Crosse at a track where his trainer is always to be respected.

Hopping over the Irish Sea and to Haydock, Qitaal catches the eye in the extended seven-furlong novice (3.15).

The two-year-old Shadwell homebred is by Iffraaj out of New Approach’s daughter Qaafeya, who was unraced but closely related to Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes winner Bangkok, and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Matterhorn.

Qitaal, like Matterhorn, for most of his career at least, trained by Mark Johnston, faces seven rivals headed by 800,000gns Book 1 buy New Kingdom, who was fifth on his debut for Godolphin last month.

In the opening 1m3f maiden (2.10) at Haydock, just one of the four runners is unraced, but the horse in question, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained King Capella, is definitely of interest, being a De Rothschild family homebred by Kingman out of Crystal Cappella, an eight-time winner for the same connections, including of the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes and the Group 2 Pride Stakes twice.

There are a number of eyecatching two-year-old newcomers at Salisbury, with Good American one who raises the eyebrows in the extended six-furlong fillies’ maiden (2.00).

By Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, she is out of German Group 2 and 3 winner Parvaneh. She was a 125,000gns Book 1 buy last autumn and races for Andrew Rosen.

This ten-strong contest looks like it could take a bit of winning, however, and four of the five runners with experience all showed promise on their debut.

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