Could there be another exciting Group performer lurking in this year's Melrose Handicap?

This is a good race and so it should be. It's the Ebor but for three-year-olds and therefore attracts the pick of the up-and-coming staying handicappers from Britain and Ireland. However, it sometimes works out even better than that and future Group horses have won it.

Polarisation, Secret Advisor, Hamish, Coltrane, Soulcombe and Middle Earth are six of the last ten winners to go on to score in Group company in either Britain or Australia, and three contenders this year hold entries in the St Leger at Doncaster next month, so hopes are high.

Tarriance is the shortest in the market for the final Classic and trainer Andrew Balding won the race in 2020 and 2021 with Coltrane and Valley Forge, who had both run only four times before competing in this. Tarriance has had exactly that number of outings.

The pick of them was a hard-fought victory over an in-form, four-timer-seeking runner from Sir Mark Prescott's yard at Sandown last time, when the first two were clear of the rest who included the reopposing Boatswain. Tarriance will need to improve again to win this hot race.

However, his dam was a Group 3 winner and his St Leger entry is a hint at better to come.

Balding also saddles the hat-trick-seeking Fantasy World, who can’t run in the Leger because he is already gelded but Daiquiri Bay and Pole Star can. They are the other two with entries in the final Classic and Pole Star's trainer is Charlie Johnston, whose dad Mark saddled Polarisation to win ten years ago before he went on to win a Group 1 handicap in Australia.

Pole Star doesn't appear to have the same potential, but it's hard to knock his handicap form and he is only 8lb higher than when winning his first handicap, so a hat-trick isn't ruled out.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Sea sets sail for Wathnan

Harry Eustace is chasing a first win for Wathnan Racing with Sea Of Kings, who the Qatari operation purchased privately to stay in his yard in the spring.

The son of Sea The Stars is still a maiden but caught the eyes of many when finishing a close fifth over a mile and three furlongs at Goodwood last time, and he has shortened to 5-1 (from 8) in recent days for this.

The Newmarket trainer said: "You can see why people have backed him for this as he looked the unlucky one at Goodwood. That looked a good spot for him that day but he messed about in the stalls a bit and missed the break. He's done a bit of stalls work with Craig Witheford since then and a mile and six on a track like the Knavesmire should suit him. 

"He's versatile as regards ground and he's owned by Wathnan Racing, who it's fantastic to have in the yard."

He added: "We've been looking forward to getting him over this sort of trip but whether I thought we'd get here as soon as we have, I'm not sure."

What they say

Simon Crisford, joint-trainer of Boatswain
He has top weight in a very competitive race but we feel this is his trip, although some ease in the ground would have helped his cause.

Alan King, trainer of Daiquiri Bay
He's been running well all year. We think with the way he travels and on his pedigree the step up in trip should suit him, but it's the first attempt. He's giving me every indication he'll get the trip and he might even improve for it. He goes on this ground, but he would be a better horse with a bit of dig in the ground.

Barry Mahon, racing manager to Juddmonte, owners of Tarriance and Cape Breton
Tarriance is a nice horse who has progressed all season. He's a bit of a late developer and this race has been the plan since he won at Sandown last month. Cape Breton is progressive, and has done very little wrong. Richard [Kingscote] gave him a lovely ride at Goodwood and he was only beaten by narrow margins for second. This step up in trip should see more improvement from him.

Jim Boyle, trainer of Many Men
He won't have any problem with the trip as he won over two miles last time and ran well at this track over a mile and a half before then. It's a higher quality race but these are the sort of races we want to be pitching in and he's certainly not going there as a no-hoper.

William Haggas, trainer of Golden Handshake
We've had this race in mind for him for a while as it's a good fit and he has a good draw. I'd be hopeful he'd run a nice race.

Ed Bethell, trainer of Talismans Time
He's won his last two at Hamilton but I don't think he was in love with the track and I expect this track and trip to suit him better. It's the Melrose, so it's ultra-competitive and this will tell us a bit more about him.
Reporting by David Milnes

Read more Saturday previews:

3.00 York: 'He'll have his ground and the track will be perfect for him' - key insight for an intriguing City of York   

3.35 York: 'We've aimed him at the race and we just hope he gets a bit more luck' - top trainers assess their Ebor chances  

Curragh: Churchill, Gleneagles, Magical - who could be the next stars in waiting in Saturday's Group 2 races?  

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