More 8 to Follow clues on show today
Almost £20,000 in prize money (approximately €27,250 at the current exchange rate) is up for grabs thanks to the generosity of Qatar Racing's Al Thani brothers, and the winner alone will pick up £10,000 (€13,620) and there are prizes down to fifth place. To take part simply pick eight horses trained in Europe for Qatar Racing or Pearl Bloodstock - each stable of eight costs entrants £10, and you can enter as many teams as you like. Go to www.8tofollow.co.uk, or click on 8 to Follow logos on this site, to get a full list of horses and details of how to enter - profits from the competition are given to the charity Racing Welfare.
A potentially key candidate for inclusion runs today in the Gr.3 Aon Greenham Stakes at Newbury (14.50) - Flaming Spear won his sole start last year for Kevin Ryan's stable, and is reported to have progressed into a lovely horse over the winter. He holds entries in the Gr.1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas and Irish equivalent, and also in the Gr.2 Dante Stakes at York - Stakes races offer extra points for 8 to Follow competitors, so Flaming Spear is worth considering by entrants.
Andrea Atzeni rides the colt today, and will also partner debutant Indian Monsoon in the Al Basti Equiworld Maiden (16.00), in which Murgam is also a runner under Oisin Murphy. Completing the Newbury options is Raw Impulse, who runs in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Maiden (17.10).
Cool Strutter carries top weight and jockey Danny Tudhope in a handicap at Thirsk (17.05) - he is making his debut for David O'Meara's yard having raced last season from Richard Hannon's stable - while When In Doubt (17.15) and Master Of Mayhem run in consecutive races at Navan for Ger Lyons' stable.
Every 8 to Follow entry must include four two-year-olds - Saunter and Birdcage are two early-season types who holds entries next week at Maisons Laffitte and Tipperary respectively. You can find more two-year-old suggestions from our experts at www.8tofollow.co.uk.
#Meanwhile, leading Investec Derby contender Elm Park, another 8 to Follow option owned by Qatar Racing, pleased connections as he went through his paces after racing at Newbury yesterday.
Galloping with two companions over seven furlongs, the Andrew Balding-trained Gr.1 Racing Post Trophy winner was partnered by Andrea Atzeni and travelled in second before picking up around a furlong out to finish just in front at the line, without being asked any serious questions.
Balding told skysports.com: "I was perfectly happy with that, as I didn't want to over-do him on that ground. He was a little bit rusty, but he finished off well and hardly had a blow afterwards."