Maddy has a 10-1 1,000 Guineas fancy and nominates a 25-1 shot for the Arc

Zellie
3.40 Newmarket, Sunday
1pt win at 10-1

Agave
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, October 1
1pt win at 25-1 with William Hill

The midweek scratching of long-time ante-post favourite Inspiral shook up the Qipco 1,000 Guineas market and with Homeless Songs now only 50-50 to take part, the first fillies' Classic of the season has been thrown wide open.

I can't have Tenebrism as although she shaped as if she would stay a mile in the Cheveley Park, she's by a Commonwealth Cup winner in Caravaggio – admittedly her dam Immortal Verse stayed a mile well – and 5-2 is hardly enough of an incentive to take the chance.

Discoveries, who is closely matched with Tuesday on her juvenile form, is solid but I'd rather look for something at a slightly bigger price.

The two to keep on side could be the French pair Malavath and Zellie, who were first and second in the Prix Imprudence on seasonal debuts.

Malavath finished strongly to come home second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November, and although she is by Mehmas the distaff side of her pedigree confirms she has the potential to thrive over a mile and beyond.

It could be that there is more to come from Zellie, however, as trainer Andre Fabre traditionally treats the Imprudence as a dress rehearsal, and she wasn't given a hard time by Olivier Peslier.

Zellie: the Marcel Boussac winner could make a splash in the Qipco 1,000 Guineas for Andre FabreCredit: Edward Whitaker

Miss France was sixth in the Imprudence before winning the 1,000 Guineas for Fabre, while Natagora won the race en route to Newmarket glory in 2008 for Pascal Bary. Other top-class fillies to emerge from the race in recent years include Moonlight Cloud, Ervedya and Watch Me.

Unlike Malavath, Zellie is already a Group 1 winner as she impressed when taking out the Prix Marcel Boussac on heavy ground in October. The forecast decent ground shouldn't be a concern, as she has won on good and is by Wootton Bassett, who won on extremes of going.

Guineas winner Speciosa also features in Zellie's pedigree and she's out of a Nathaniel mare, so don't expect her to be stopping climbing out of the Dip.

With two points between them in the market and further improvement expected, Zellie makes more appeal at a best-priced 10-1.

It could be a big year for Fabre, who unleashed a smart prospect when Baratti won the Listed Prix Lord Seymour two Sundays ago.

The flashy chestnut is a brother to Finche, who came within a short head of winning a Group 1 in Australia and ran with credit in a handful of Melbourne Cups.

Don't be surprised if Baratti develops into a similarly high-class stayer and ends up running in races like the Prix Maurice de Nieuil, Prix Kergolay, Prix du Cadran and Prix Royal-Oak. Hopefully connections may entertain a Gold Cup entry, too.

Another potential Juddmonte-owned star could be the unbeaten three-year-old filly Agave, who made a pleasing return in the Prix Penelope at the start of the month and is set to face the colts next at Saint-Cloud, presumably in the Prix Greffulhe – Fabre won that race with subsequent Derby winner Pour Moi in 2011.

Could Agave give Andre Fabre another Epsom Classic?Credit: Mark Cranham

The trainer won the Oaks with Intrepidity in 1993 and it's interesting he seems keen to bring Agave to Epsom for the fillies' Classic given she is closely related to Enable, who of course won the race in 2017.

Enable was a dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner and I must confess to having a tentative bet on Agave for the Longchamp showpiece at 25-1.

It goes without saying she has an awful long way to go, but her trainer clearly thinks a great deal of her and she has won her first three starts in serene style.

Three-year-old fillies have an excellent recent record in the Arc, and given her background she has the potential to be a huge market mover.

Punchestown pointer

Thanksforthehelp
3.40 Punchestown, Wednesday
1pt win

I'm ready to move on from the jumping action, but not before the Punchestown festival this week.

I find it hard to believe the markets are keeping many secrets from us, and the small-field Grade 1s don't appeal as betting mediums.

The handicaps are a different question, however, and my ears pricked up when I received a tracker notification for a race on Wednesday.

Thanksforthehelp is set to make his handicap debut in the 2m4f handicap hurdle (3.40) and he could be feasibly treated off a mark of 109.

He has been given a nice introduction over hurdles, finishing behind smart horses like Frere D'Armes (rated 120) and Honneur D'Ajonc (129) and shaping as if there was much more to come.

Both the step up in trip and application of a first-time tongue-tie could help, while his trainer David Pipe has hit form recently and is operating at a 22 per cent strike-rate.

The booking of crack conditional jockey Shane Fitzgerald, who partnered Commander Of Fleet to victory in the Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival last month, is another positive and if the price is right when the market is formed I'll certainly be getting involved.

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