Mootasadir takes next step on unorthodox path to Royal Ascot

1 Palmer eyeing Hampton Court with all-weather performer

Chelmsford, Wolverhampton, Royal Ascot – Mootasadir will take another step along a slightly unusual path when he runs in the 1m1½f novice event (4.25) at Wolverhampton.

He takes to the Tapeta having won going away on the Polytrack in Essex 18 days ago, and trainer Hugo Palmer said: "We'd love to be running him on turf but there aren't many options at the moment that aren't bottomless ground; he's a top-of-the ground horse.

"He's stepping up a little in trip, which we think will suit him, and he's been in good form since Chelmsford. Fingers crossed he can carry a penalty, but that's not easy to do."

Palmer has suggested a Derby trial could be on the agenda for Mootasadir after his successful debut but added: "He doesn't have a Derby entry and for horses who start their career only in their three-year-old season the Classics come too soon.

"We've been very patient and we'll continue that and take it one race at a time – a race like the Hampton Court at Royal Ascot could be the right step into stakes company."

2 British debut for Aussie-bred two-year-old

Here's an oddity – an Australian-bred colt taking on British rivals as a two-year-old in the 5f novice stakes (5.40) at Windsor.

Anthem Of Peace is allowed to compete as he was bred to northern hemisphere time and was foaled on March 3, rather than six months earlier, as might have been the case for his compatriots.

He's out of a seven-time Australian winner but was sold to Sam Sangster Bloodstock at Goffs in Doncaster as a yearling and makes his debut for Brian Meehan here.

3 Ewart keeps it simple

If it ain't broke, don't fix it – James Ewart hopes that policy will earn Da Capo Dandy (7.20) her fourth victory over six furlongs at Southwell in the space of six weeks.

"We've gone there and it's worked so we've kept going back," the trainer said. "If you go to Newcastle on Tapeta it's very different and it's quite likely it wouldn't work at all. It's simple logic, if you're lucky enough to have a pattern of races where you can continue to go back to the same track on the same ground all the time, you do it."

Da Capo Dandy is now 17lb higher than when her winning run started but Ewart said: "I don't see why she can't win again; it actually looks a poor race and I think we've been rather jammy.

"We've already beaten the best of them and it's an unusually poor race even for the level it is."

4 McInerney in demand

Last week was one Donie McInerney won't forget in a hurry. A La Touche triumph on Auvergnat at Punchestown was trumped two days later when he was crowned champion conditional for the first time having ridden 34 winners during a superb season.

The first day of the new jumps season in Ireland is at Kilbeggan on Monday and it is no surprise to see McInerney in demand.

He has been booked by Charles Byrnes for Thosedaysaregone in the opening 2m3f maiden hurdle (5.00), with the five-year-old likely to start favourite having won a Wexford bumper in March. That is the only such form on offer in the race, with his 11 opponents winless.

McInerney also rides Waterville Dancer in the 2m maiden hurdle (5.30), another trained by Byrnes.

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