Hanagan looks well-placed to further title bid

The 2010 Flat season could hardly be going much better for Richard Fahey's No 1 pilot, who celebrated his 30th birthday with wins No 144 and 145 on Town Moor yesterday.

And in Wootton Bassett, the Warrington-born rider, who has been with Malton-based Fahey since he was an apprentice, is building an association that could potentially propel him towards a first Group One triumph.

Described by Fahey as the best two-year-old he has trained after landing strong betting market support with an imperious display in the DBS Premier Yearling Stakes at York's Ebor meeting, the imposing son of Iffraaj goes for further big-money glory in the Weatherbys Insurance 300,000 2-Y-O Stakes.

The trainer is delighted with his progress from York but is very respectful of the colt's opponents, not least the Mick Channon-trained Galtymore Lad, runner-up on Knavesmire and considerably better off at the weights this time.

Fahey said: "Strictly on form he (Wootton Bassett) can't beat Channon's horse – he's 8lb better off, but we'll see. Our horse is well.

"We feel he's improving the whole time with every race he's had but it's an open race. The others aren't any back numbers."

The DFS Park Hill Stakes, commonly referred to as the fillies'

St Leger, is the most prestigious race on the card and it normally pays to take note when John Oxx is represented on these shores.

His Roses For The Lady was a disappointing favourite in Listed company at the Curragh last month but the ground was far too lively for the daughter of Sadler's Wells.

The news of recent rain in Yorkshire will have been music to Oxx's ears, whose charge chased home Sariska on heavy going in the Irish Oaks last July, and he could be taking this Group Two prize back to the Emerald Isle.

With a host of Newmarket representatives set to line up in the opening EBF crownhotel-bawtry.com Maiden Stakes, it could pay to watch the inevitable market moves, but John Gosden's Nathaniel sets a very warm standard on his debut second to Frankel at Headquarters last month.

The winner already tops the ante-post lists for next year's Derby and Nathaniel can rubber-stamp the level of form with success under William Buick.

Recent York one-two Sweet Lightning and Royal Destination lock horns again in the DFS Handicap and there might not be much between them again, but the real eye-catcher is Rashaad, who lurks dangerously towards the bottom on the weights.

Trained by Barry Hills, the gelded son of Smart Strike created a big impression when winning his maiden on Town Moor last October and made a pleasing return to competitive action when third in a Listed race at Newmarket in May.

He then took a backward step when unable to make any sort of impression behind Rewilding at Goodwood but got back on track when ninth in a red-hot 12-furlong handicap won by another St Leger hope, Dandino, at Royal Ascot in June.

He did remarkably well to finish as close as he did that day having raced far too freely for his own good in the early exchanges, and a drop back in trip looks sure to suit this afternoon.

Richard Hannon saddles two really nice types in the European Breeders' Fund Carrie Red Fillies Nursery but it is Godolphin's Ragsah, ridden by Frankie Dettori, who appears a better prospect.

A half-sister to the brilliant Dubai Millennium, she delivered on the promise of her first couple of starts when justifying prohibitive odds in a Kempton maiden last month and the form already has a very solid look to it.

Dettori looks to hold another decent chance of success when he gets the leg-up on the Marco Botti-trained Carioca in the Listed Japan Racing Association Sceptre Stakes.

She scored at this level in Italy in the spring and is entitled to have needed her comeback run when only fifth behind Sajjhaa at Bath last month.

Look out for Fahey and Hanagan in the concluding Meadowhall Fashion Handicap, where Valery Borzov is fancied to swoop late for top honours.

He has come tumbling down the weights since his last success, when in the care of David Nicholls, and gave the impression his turn was fast approaching when beaten only four lengths by Hitchens at York on unsuitably quick ground over the weekend.