Big Break



A full sister to the formerly smart Famous Name, Khalid Abdullah seems to have an instant replacement in the Dermot Weld-trained Big Break. Following a promising close up third at Galway on debut, the 3-yo filly has won both her starts at Leopardstown since and demonstrating a scintillating turn of foot in doing so, pulling clear of the remainder with notable ease. She looks certain to be involved at the very top this season and it is no surprise to see her involved in the 1,000 Guineas market (available at 12-1). Potentially exciting, it is widely thought she could be even better on a sounder surface with her form to date on ground on the easy side of good.



Mars



The vibes surrounding this Aidan O'Brien chestnut colt have spoke volumes. So much so that off the back of a maiden win at



Dundalk, the bookmakers have catapulted him to the forefront of The Derby ante-post market (available at 9-1).



Obviously Kingsbarns is the one they all have to beat (available at 13-2 favourite), but this Galileo colt is in himself well-

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regarded and showed a nice attitude to pull away from The Ferryman (who recorded some smart form in 2012) to score by



some four-and-three-quarter lengths in authoritative fashion. A horse that has the flat racing world talking.





Sky Lantern



Following an exciting 2012, the Richard Hannon Sky Lantern headed to the Breeders Cup with connections extremely



hopeful of a big show from a handy draw. Sadly, things didn't pan out that day and Richard Hughes was somewhat pinned



in on the rail with nowhere to go. She finished a close-up eighth but seemingly had plenty left in the locker and her 2012



form reads well. Despite being beaten at odds-on in the Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last August (described by Hughsie

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as a 'rough race') , she was sent off at 7-1 for her first start in a Group One in a 13-strong field and showed a devastating turn

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of foot to land the Moyglare Stud Stakes in decisive fashion. None could match her impressive acceleration a furlong from

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home, and she became the first British-trained winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes since 2002, scoring by some two-and-a-

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half lengths. Following that performance Richard Hannon Jr seemed convince she'd make a Guineas filly next year. She



surely represents the value in the race, and this week bookmakers cut her price from 16-1 (Stan James) into 14's with



Ladbrokes notably short at 10/1.





Certify

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With an exciting 2012 under her belt she is a fascinating contender for this season. A leading hope for Godolphin in the



1,000 Guineas (available at 7-1) she went unbeaten last season, winning four from four and beating our 1,000 Guineas

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ante-post punt Sky Lantern at Newmarket in a Group 3 by a length in August lat year. She made steady progression



beating another smart horse in Purr Along in a Group 2 before eventually landing a Group 1 in the Shadwell at Newmarket

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back in September seeing off a challenge from Roz powering clear in the style of a good horse.



Godolphin will be keen to get their season off to a flyer and they may be worth watching in the build up to the Classics,



despite holding the majority sharehold in 2,000 Guineas favourite Dawn Approach, they will no doubt want one of their



own and Certify could be the answer to changing fortunes from 2012. She quickened up in nice style to land her only Group



1 start and despite having beaten Sky Lantern before, may find that opponent hard to pass in May. Despite this, she is



definitely plenty talented and is one who should figure prominently on any persons shortlist.