Classic contenders test credentials as Flat season stirs into life at Newbury

This week traditionally marks the annual transition of attentions in Britain from jumps to the Flat. The Grand National has disappeared in the rear-view mirror and a whole host of informative trials have brought the first major Classic into focus.

With the jumps season winding down towards the finale at Sandown next Saturday, it is time to put away your heavy winter coats and grab a notebook as three-mile chasers are replaced by their faster, and usually far more expensive, three-year-old Flat counterparts.

This is the time of year when big-race ambitions, allowed to grow over the lean winter months, are put to the test and needless to say the unbeaten Native Trail, favourite for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, passed his with flying colours when winning Wednesday's Craven Stakes.