<p>A CRACKING race looks in prospect for today's 2,000 Guineas and IBN KHALDUN is selected to floor the favourite, Jim Bolger's New Approach.</p>
<p>It's about time Goldolphin came up with the good in this early-season classic and Ibn Khaldun is beautifully bred by Dubai Destination out of Gossamer, a mare not far off the top bracket herself.</p>
<p>Why have I gone off New Approach will all his proven credentials. Well in the recent pictures my gut instinct was that he had not grown very much since carrying all before him in his two-year-old days, and with the favourite shortening all the time, 7-4 is a crazy price to take for a horse without a run this season - even if Bolger is a master horseman.</p>
<p>By Galileo, he looks a cert to get the Epsom Derby distance and that surely must be at the back of connections' minds. He may not have everything pinned on to this one day.</p>
<p> Ibn Khladun has drifted in the ante-post market and that's probably because the form of the Racing Post Mile last back-end, which he won at Doncaster, does not look to amount to a hill of beans.</p>
<p>But it was more important that day that he showing a very impressive cruising speed and superb acceleration at the end of his race - vital components for a top miler.</p>
<p>True, the runner-up at Doncaster, City Leader was beaten out of sight behind Twice Over and Raven's Pass in last month's Newmarket Craven Stakes, which tends to crab the form, but my advice is not to read too much into that.</p>
<p>City Leader needs to drop a few pounds to get a decent chance and he was most unlikely to have had the fuse in the keg that day.</p>
<p>You cannot ingore Henrythenavigator representing Aidan O'Brien, who knows exactly what is needed when the big races come around.</p>
<p> Although beaten three lengths by New Approach last year, this horse is by Kingmambo and will relish the good to firm going after running mainly on a yielding surface last year.He was also conceding 3lb to New Approach when they clashed and on level terms this time, he must be a lot closer.</p>
<p>We are looking for a champion here though and the overall package does not quite ring true, but the fear is there!</p>
<p>Ibn Khaldun, Henrythenavigator and New Approach is my idea of the pecking order at the line.
PASSAGE OF TIME looked a class above the rest ifor Henry Cecil in the Dahlia Stakes (2.45) at headquarters and others to look out for are FLAWED GENIUS (2.10) - a Michael Stoute runner in a good-class-handicap - and the unexposed CUBAN MISSILE. (5.10).</p>
<p>Elsewhere, I like the look of EXTRATERRESTRIAL in the Thirsk Hunt Cup (3.45) at the Yorkshire track.</p>
<p>Beaten by a progressive John Gosden winner last time out, he has only gone up 2lb and clocked a fanstatic time.</p>
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<p>A CLUTCH of horses that were trained specifically for the Lincoln meeting at Doncaster last month are out again and the most of the talking is about DON'T PANIC, who sensationally hacked up on the Town Moor mile.</p>
<p>That run was a second faster and with a stone heavier than the Lincoln winner Smokey Oakey - and a repetition of that effort probably would be good enough here - surely at least to beat Lincoln second Blythe Knight.</p>
<p>Nothing is ever that simple though.</p>
<p>Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam sets punters a poser by also running Medicine Path, who has top jockey Jeremy Spencer on board.</p>
<p>Medicine Path is entered for the top mile contest, the Lockinge, and his career is very much back in the ascendancy - back to something like when he ran Derby victor Authorized to three lengths.</p>
<p>He also has a blistering turn of foot as shown when he destroyed his rivals at Kempton on his reutnr last month.</p>
<p>Throw into the mix that fact that Arundel handler John Dunlop has won this race four times in six years and saddles a Group 3 horses in Tell.</p>
<p>But the speed that DON'T PANIC showed suggests he's going to be a coming force in mile events at any level and he gets the vote to follow-up.</p>
<p>Spencer can oblige with Mark Wallace's sprint handicapper CHIEF EDITOR (3.30). The Tomba gelding won an £8,000 race at Wolverhampton last November is the style of a very useful type.
He had a bit more to spare than the neck verdict suggests, but the margin means the handicapper has not been too harsh.</p>
<p>He can go on to better things and must go close with the top jockey on board.</p>
<p>Kempton's Easter Stakes is the destination for IL WARRD to give Marcus Tregoning's stable a bit of a boost.
After Sir Percy's Derby win things have been very quiet for the stable, but this Pivotal colt is bred to go places. He was not seen at his best behind hotpot Rio De La Plata (pulled too hard after being bumped), but had skated up at Ascot and looked the sort to improve with a winter under his belt.</p>
<p>I'm baffled why PELICAN WATERS goes for a Listed race at Newbury (2.10) with the likes of Michael Stoute's Heaven Sent in the field.</p>
<p> Any sort of prominent run will ruin her favourable handicap mark, but ignoring the formbook I trust that Ed Vaughan knows what he is doing (well small each-way trust that might be).</p>
<p>VITZNAU (3.55) looked a picture before running unplaced in the Lincoln and can defy top weight at the same meeting.</p>
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<p>EVERYONE wants to be on the John Smith's Grand National winner and there's no doubt the majority of punters will fancy favourite Cloudy Lane to show Donald McCain is a chip off the old block.</p>
<p> His dad Ginger having saddled the legendary Red rum to victory here three times as well as Amberleigh House in the twilight of his career.</p>
<p>I would not put anyone off this progressive eight-year-old, whom the official handicapper rates 20lb better for future races, having not had his latest win at Doncaster to consider when compiling his ratings.</p>
<p>That makes him a handicap blot, but Aintree is no a unique course, with its own unique rules and Cloudy Lane has never gone the four and a half miles around it.</p>
<p>Comply or Die has won a marathon slog in the Eider Chase at Newcastle and is very closely handicapped with the favourite, so comes into the reckoning.</p>
<p> But a touch of class is often needed and SIMON looks to be the sort to give the favourite a good run and at 12/1 he is better value.</p>
<p> Owner Mercy Rimmell is steeped in National lore herself as her husband Fred was a trainer who always liked a tilt at this race.</p>
<p>The key form race for me came when SIMON was full of running when unseating his rider in Knowhere's victory over Our Vic in Cheltenham's Racing Post Chase this year - that is outstanding form as Our Vic edged out Kauto Star at Aintree this week.</p>
<p> Top handicap winners Neptune Collonges and Madison Berlaid were behind in Cheltenham race, underlining its value.</p>
<p>I must admit that Knowhere is probably my idea of the best each-way longshot at 50-1, but if he had stood up SIMON would probably have won and if he puts in a clear round.</p>
<p>HEDGEHUNTER and BEWLEYS BERRY aare "great leppers" as the Irish say and should get in the argument, but its SIMON to win with KNOWHERE to go somewhere near too.</p>
<p>AL EILE is a standing dish for the Irish at this fixture and can take the 2.50pm race, with DREAM ALLIANCE to take advantage of a lenient hurdles mark when switching back from a disappointing chasing campaign in the 3.25.</p>
<p>JOHN TERRY Terry is fancied to score - double up with Chelsea Harbour in the National for all blues' fans - on the flat at Lingfield.</p>
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<p>MARK Johnston's powerful Middleham string looks set to snap into action and SOAPY DANGER can clean up in Doncaster's Shield Conditions Stakes at 3.35.</p>
<p>As a three-year-old, the Danzig colt won at Group 3 and Group 2 level, and though he disappointed slightly last year after an injury setback, he has been persevered with by the stable and does not look over-tried here.</p>
<p>Diamond Tycoon will be all the rage for Kempton's Mangolia Stakesa at 3.45pm but Michael Bell's SPICE ROUTE looked a progressive sort when running behind Lucarno in the Great Voltigeur at York.</p>
<p> The likelihood is that he has improved during the close season and although Diamond Tycoon has the beating of him through Lucarno, but the selection has more experience and can show he is a fast improver.</p>
<p>WATAMU was touted as a live hope for the Lincoln, but missed last week's race and can gain compensation in Kempton's Intercasino Co. Uk. Rosebery Heritage Handicpa.</p>
<p> Classy jockey Seb Sanders gets the ride on Peter Makin's seven-year-old, who was a very useful handicapper on turf but has been sidelined with injury and has dropped in the ratings.</p>
<p>Early-season specialist Richard Fahey has a nicely-treated sort in GREEN PARK, who will love the softer ground in Doncaster's 4.10pm sprint and is one for the each-way punters.</p>
<p>Kvin Burke's horses are at concert pitch and SMYBIOSIS looks worth siding with at a decent price in Newbury's 2.55pm race, the Mares Only Novices Handicap Final.</p>

YEAMAN'S Hall is fancied to land the William Hill Lincoln when the race returns to Doncaster tomorrow after it was switched to Newcastle last year while refurbishment work went ahead.
Kingsclere-based Andrew Balding is an astute trainer, especially at placing horses in big handicaps, and this son of Galileo was touted as a possible classic contender at one stage.
He never lived up to that rating - the trainer said he had problems in mid-season - but a close-up fifth in a Grup 3 at the Curragh suggests he is on a handy mark.
Doncaster has had new drainage installed and what effect the draw may have (a low one has always been desirable on soft ground in the past) seems hard to predict.
Balding had engaged 3lb claimer William Buik to ride - and that may help offset any difficulty.
Fremen looks the each-way call in this race at 20-1, which, however, is usually won by an unexposed sort.
Barry Hills's Zaahid failed to make the cut for the Lincoln and instead goes for the Spring Mile, earlier on the same card. He was a warm ante-post favourite for the Lincoln will will be fancied to take this lesser prize in his stride, but it may be worth opposing with PELICAN WATERS.
Ed Vaughan's former Irish-trained import showed marked improvement on his latest run on the all-weather, but his turf rating has not been adjusted.
Definitely worth watching for a market move and one to follow.
Kevin Ryan may hold the key to the Cammidge Trophy. This is a hot six-furlong sprint and WI DUD was not far off the best last season, though e campaigned at the minimum trip.
Ryan also saddles Advanced, through which he hhas a good guide to the form, but the stable's main jockey Neil Callan takes the ride on WI DUD and the hint should be taken.
Horses who should be soon winning from this line-up include Prime Defender, who would have been a leading contender but looks a firm-ground performer.
Ayr Gold Cup winner Utmost Respect shaped like a progressive sort likely to go on to pattern-race contests and will not be far away.
Carlisle racecourse features a rare televised race from the Cumbrian track and the £25,000 totescoop handicap chase is hard to unravel. GYPSY GEORGE looked like an improving sort when winning will a bit in gand last time and gets the nod. Hopefully this race arrives not too early before he until a crack at something bigger next season.

<p>ON a spectacular 10-race card at Cheltenham today, there isn't time to weigh up all the pros and cons, so gut instinct has to play a part in selections and TWIST MAGIC gets a chance to prove himself out of the top drawer in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.</p>
<p>No chaser has impressed more over two miles this season than Magic when beating Vor Per Ustedes at Sandown and although Ruby Walsh opts for stablemate Master-Minded, Magic gets the vote.</p>
<p>Walsh can steer Irish raider POMME PIEPY(1.05) to victory for Willie Mullins in the Royal Sun and Alliance Chase, having run up a string of wins in Ireland without being really tested.</p>
<p>MR STRACHAN (1.40) has solids form claims based on good runs against Tidal Bay and Krugerova, who both showed up well on this meeting's first day, and Sue Smith's charge is not harshly treated on that basis.</p>
<p>If you fancy Bible Lord (4.05), then LIMITED EDITION has got to be the selection. He thrashed the former by eight lengths and and is 5lb better off.</p>
<p>Jimmy Moffatt's Cartmel-trained hope Chief Dan George goes for the World Hurdle, but drying ground and a disappointing season means he has it all to do, though the uphill finish will suit.</p>
<p>Inglis Drever looks to have the race at his mercy but it is interesting that EBAZIYAN takes his chance after a poor run in the Champion.</p>
<p>He could be the each-way value after what might just have been a run-out.</p>
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