Elm Park gallops at newbury on Friday

Now owned 100% by Qatar Racing - having won the Gr.1 Racing Post Trophy in shared ownership with the Kingsclere Racing Club - Elm Park is reported in "fine fettle" by trainer Andrew Balding, who paraded the horse at a press morning yesterday.

Balding, whose mother, Emma, bred the colt, said: "He won a Group One over a mile as a two-year-old, but is not slow. If we got cut in the ground in the Guineas it wouldn't be a problem for him, but some of the others might not relish it. I've never had a juvenile as good as him and he's versatile ground-wise and how he runs."

A bid for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas followed by the Investec Derby is Balding's Plan A for Elm Park, and he said: "I'm not sure any horse is ideal for Epsom, but it's the race we all want to win. There are other valuable races, but there is only one Derby."

Elm Park is an obvious candidate for Qatar Racing's 8 to Follow competition, which starts on May 2 and runs through until QIPCO British Champions Day on October 17. To take part simply pick eight horses - including four two-year-olds - to create a stable from among those trained in Europe for Qatar Racing, Pearl Bloodstock and associate partnerships. The stable that gains the most points this season will win the £10,000 first prize.

For a full list of horses and competition details go to www.8tofollow.com.uk or click on the adjacent 8tF logos. The official site also contains plenty of clues from experts involved with Qatar Racing - all profits from the competition are given to the charity Racing Welfare.

Plenty more candidates for 8 to Follow will be in action this week, including the David Simcock-trainedTerror, who runs today at Newmarket in the Gr. 3 Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes (16.05).

Horses worth noting tomorrow at the same racecourse include Aces, who also holds a QIPCO Guineas entry, and will be representing Charlie Hills' stable in the Craven Stakes (16.05), Elm Park's stablemateRocky Rider, who contests the Tattersalls Millions Trophy (14.55), and Gamesome, Olly Stevens' runner in the Abernant Stakes (15.30). Arod, last year's Derby fourth, runs for Peter Chapple-Hyam's yard in the Earl Of Sefton Stakes (16.40), while Argus (14.20) and War Queen (13.45) are making their racing debuts. They represent Ralph Becket and David Brown respectively.