Fortune to shine on King Marju

After weeks spent clunking along like an old banger, the 2005 Flat season finally moves out of the slow lane this week.

The results of Godolphin's private trials will filter back from Dubai later today, while Newbury ends the week with several big races on Friday and Saturday.

But for thousands of traditionalists, the first day of spring arrives when Newmarket dusts itself off for the start of the Craven Meeting.

Channel 4 cutbacks mean day one of the three-day fixture is no longer on terrestrial television, but Racing UK will be screening an intriguing sevenrace card where King Marju (nap) and Jimmy Fortune are the combination to note for the Ousden Conditions Stakes at 2.55.

Peter Chapple-Hyam continues to make a big impression since his return from Hong Kong and this colt did him proud last season.

A Newmarket maiden win and an excellent second in a Goodwood nursery paved the way for a tilt at the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury last October, and King Marju ran a blinder to finish a clear third behind the fast-improving Cupid's Glory.

John Dunlop's impressive Doncaster winner Museeb will command plenty of support against him, but he takes a fair step up in class tomorrow and conceding 4lb to a useful rival like King Marju will be far from easy.

As ever at Newmarket, several of the other contests involve trying to assess the potential of lightly raced horses open to any amount of improvement.

With that in mind it could pay to focus on the more established merits of Eisteddfod (nb), who lines up against a big field in the NGK Spark Plugs/Coachmakers Handicap at 3.25.

Paul Cole's muscular chestnut thrived in handicaps during the second half of last season and looked as good as ever on his Kempton reappearance when third behind the well-regarded Iffraaj.

That race has already thrown up a couple of winners and, with the capable Brazilian apprentice Nelson de Souza taking a valuable 5lb off his back, Eisteddfod looks all set to put up a really bold show.

Cool Creek is another name to note when he lines up for the Federation

of Bloodstock Agents Conditions Stakes at 2.20.

Richard Hannon's colt looked desperately unlucky on his Kempton debut but will be much sharper now and can make the most of the 6lb he receives from three previous winner who stand in his way.

Meanwhile, a depressing reminder that Flat racing can be every bit as dangerous as jumping has been provided by the news that Tycoon was killed in action on the last day of the UAE racing season yesterday.

The four-year-old proved himself just behind the very best by finishing third in the Irish Derby and the St Leger for Aidan O'Brien last year but had to be put down after breaking down badly in a Listed race at Abu Dhabi.

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