FRIDAY'S SELECTIONS
AINTREE: 5.45 Sun Quest, 6.15 Cape Greko, 6.50 Otarie, 7.20 Benetwood, 7.55 Cashari, 8.25 Wun Chai
CHESTER: 1.45 Extraterrestrial, 2.15 ALEXANDROS (NAP), 2.45 Macarthur, 3.15 Rose Siog, 4.00 Erlydors, 4.35 Aureate
DOWNPATRICK: 5.30 Mr Ramsay, 6.00 Coscorrig, 6.30 Lisa Bleu, 7.05 Harps Counsel, 7.35 Inner Voice, 8.10 Black Cat Crossing, 8.40 Rainbow Dash
HAMILTON: 6.05 Snow Bay, 6.35 Van Bossed, 7.10 Sheer Fantastic, 7.40 Tawzeea, 8.15 Yorkshire Blue, 8.45 Moonstreaker
LINGFIELD: 2.10 Climate, 2.40 Sonhador, 3.10 Harry Up, 3.45 Tawaash, 4.20 Gower Belle, 4.55 Uig
NOTTINGHAM: 1.30 Choiseau, 2.00 Art Princess, 2.30 Crimson Mitre, 3.00 Aypeeyes, 3.35 Crystal Capella, 4.10 Desert Chill, 4.45 Apache Nation
RIPON: 5.55 Just Five, 6.25 Not Now Lewis, 7.00 Obe Gold, 7.30 Veiled Applause, 8.05 Bertie Vista, 8.35 Danzatrice
WEXFORD: 5.10 Sienna Storm, 5.40 Bishops Yard, 6.10 January, 6.45 King Of Westphalia, 7.15 Mooretown Boy, 7.50 Dawn Assault, 8.20 Femme Du Noir
DOUBLE: Alexandros and Macarthur
Alexandros can revitalise Godolphin's spirits by winning the Addleshaw Goddard Dee Stakes at Chester.
Saeed bin Suroor's team endured a bit of a nightmare on Guineas weekend with Ibn Khaldun and Laureldean Gale both struggling in their respective Classic tilts.
But the gloom is sure to lift if their Kingmambo colt does what is expected of him in this important Group Three contest.
Alexandros makes his Godolphin bow having shown rock-solid form when in the care of Andre Fabre.
Already a Group Three and Listed scorer, the three-year-old did not do a great deal wrong in the Prix Morny, in which he finished a two-and-a-half-length third behind Myboycharlie.
The form obviously takes on added resonance as runner-up Natagora, who was half a length too strong for Alexandros at Deauville, has since won the Cheveley Park Stakes and the 1000 Guineas.
On pedigree, 10 furlongs around the twists and turns of Chester should not be an issue for Frankie Dettori's mount, who could well prove up to Derby class if all goes well here.
Macarthur was called a few names at the Curragh last time but can make amends in the Group Three Blue Square Ormonde Stakes.
Aidan O'Brien's son of Montjeu was sent off the well-fancied 9-4 favourite for a small Listed heat last month but could only come home seventh behind Red Moloney.
He is far better than that, though, and a valid argument could be made that the ground went against him that day.
After all, his St Leger sixth was hardly a disgraceful way to end last season, especially as he was flat out of luck when it mattered, while his Great Voltigeur third was also a grand effort.
That said, Macarthur has not really lived up to his lofty reputation as a juvenile and desperately needs a good show here to give his career fresh impetus.
Extraterrestrial fairly trotted up in the Thirsk Hunt Cup and can defy a 6lb penalty in the Warwick International Handicap.
Richard Fahey's four-year-old, previously in the care of Kevin Prendergast, overcame an uncompromising draw to score with a shade in hand in what is always a competitive event.
This is admittedly tougher but he looks a progressive individual for whom conditions will be ideal.
Fahey can also strike gold later on the card with Rose Siog, a speedy and consistent type who should stamp her authority upon the Hawker Beechcraft Handicap.
Erlydors is held in stratospheric esteem by Walter Swinburn and should make a victorious turf debut in the Alchem Merseyside Cheshire Regiment Maiden Fillies' Stakes.
Twice a valiant runner-up on the sand, the fact Johnny Murtagh receives the leg-up for this seven-furlong assignment may speak volumes.
Bryan Smart has started the season in rude health and unleashes another potentially exciting juvenile in the shape of Snow Bay at Hamilton.
The Bahamian Bounty chestnut already holds some big entries and should be making a successful debut in the Mighty Two-Year-Old Maiden Stakes.
Sonhador did more than enough at Folkestone to warrant support in the EBF Maiden Stakes at Lingfield, where Tawaash, who contests the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Maiden Stakes, also looks to have a bright future.
Veiled Applause shaped well enough back on the Flat at Doncaster last time to intimate that the SIS OB Services Handicap could be well within his radar at Ripon.
Otarie looks one of the sharper arrows on show at Aintree.
The six-year-old is seeking a third win on the bounce and is hard to oppose in the Clean Domain Handicap Hurdle.
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