Ones to watch

There are eight 2YO races across today’s three AW cards and bumpers at Ayr and Newbury.

Jumping straight in at the 13:10 at Lingfield, William Haggas’ Tiaraqueen is being hammered in and is now as short as 11/8. She made a fantastic impression on debut at Kempton last month when only beaten by Balding’s odds-on Topanga from 28/1, and there’s a good chance she’ll come on from that to go one better here today.

Moving swiftly on to Kempton this evening, Classic Encounter could get off the mark for the in-form Charlie Appleby — who has a SR of 31% in the last 14 days — on the third attempt in the 17:30.

The Godolphin horse was a disappointing sixth on debut here in August, but has been gelded since and returned with a solid second under Ryan Moore at Newmarket in October. He’s up in trip to 1m3f, but his breeding suggests he should appreciate it and Tudhope has two wins in his recent three rides for Appleby.

I have had much success in bumpers yet this week, but I’m not giving up and I like the look of Ayiko for Crawford in the Double Green colours in the 15:20 at Ayr.

His lack of experience perhaps stopped him from winning on debut when second only to Gordon Elliott’s Weseekherthere — who has gone on to win over hurdles. But he’s had six months off the track and looks very capable of winning this from 5/2.

The bumper at Newbury is wide-open, but given the form of O’Brien, Maria’s Flame could be worth siding with at 4/1. She may well have gained a lot of experience from her fourth-place finish on debut at Ludlow last month, and a previous run is something she has the other top four betting don’t.

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Brave Kingdom is 4-5 under rules for Paul Nicholls, including an impressive win on his chase debut under Bryony Frost at Plumpton last month. He’s up 5lb for that success, but looks capable of winning again under Cobden from 15/8 in the 13:25 at Newbury.