THERE'S not a stable in the land with their three-year-olds in better form than those housed at Marcus Tregoning's yard so it would be dangerous to dismiss the prospects Irtahal (1.45) in the opener at Goodwood today.

At this relatively early stage of the season it's always a risk pitching three-year-olds up against their elders, but that's exactly the attacking policy Marcus has adopted with Irtahal in the £35,000 Sunseeker Conqueror Fillies and Mares' Only Listed contest.

In such instances it is no good sitting on the fence and having witnessed the selection run at York nine days, when she finished third in the Group 3 Musidora Stakes, I reckon Tregoning's plan is primed for success.

He must think an awful lot of Irtahal to have thrown her in at the deep end on only her second start and although some would say she stayed the ten-furlong trip on the Knavesmire, her optimum distance might easily turn out to be this afternoon's mile.

With a string of over 80 horses at his disposal, Richard Fahey has more ammo than ever.

It's always great to have plenty of new blood, however Fahey relies on one of the "old guard",Vintage Premium (2.15) in the Peter Fairline Festval Stakes.

Vintage Premium, who so famously collected the John Smith's Magnet Cup under a wonderfully enterprisingly ride from Paul Hanagan, is favoured by the way the weights are framed and, according to the official ratings, should hold sway.

The longest race on the card, the mile-and-six-furlong Showcase Handicap, might easily produce the closest finish by virtue of several closely-matched rivals.

Down at the foot of the handicap, Theatre plus Sir Brasitias are both in fine fettle and seem certain to give a good account, but preference is for Distinction (2.45), a big slab of a horse fully expected to make Listed or even Group company later on this year.

Sir Michael Stoute, who had yet another couple of winners at course yesterday, didn't over-extend Distinctive during his 2002 campaign, which culminated in a cracking third-placing in the always red-hot Melrose Handicap at York.

With more rain forecast at Newcastle, conditions could get extremely testing at the Tyneside track - ideal for Positive Profile (3.05) in the two-mile Intro 3 Handicap.

Patrick Haslam's dour five-year-old doesn't do anything in a hurry but he'll be plodding on when others have hoisted the white flag in the home straight.

Tony Culhane has been booked to partner Positive Profile and he can complete a double aboard the mud-loving mare College Maid (4.50) in the closing Wolf Blass Handicap over five furlongs.

Jim Goldie's Glasgow-based raider has an ideal low draw from which to launch her challenge and Culhane will be trying to get her to the front where it matters.

The £35,000 Isle Of Skye Handicap Chase at Kelso has attracted some top guns from the world of fencing. Paul Nicholls rarely lets such prizes go begging and he sends Strong Flow (7.40) up from Somerset. Strong Flow has won three of his last four races and with Ruby Walsh in the saddle the loot looks all set to return south of the border.

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