William pleased with progress

IT may still be six or seven weeks until the turf season gets underway, but Newmarket’s horses are certainly starting to build towards the big ‘kick-off’.

William is already scanning the programme book mapping out plans as he works out where his first runners will be.

He reported: “Warren Hill grass canter is now open and that always signifies that the start of the turf season is not a million miles away.

“We’ve resumed cantering most of the horses and both Rock A Doodle Doo and Qushchi have taken the eye. The pair seem to have wintered well.

“Rocky appears to have recovered from his unfortunate injury, sustained at Musselburgh on Derby day last year.

“Qushsci, who won a seven-furlong fillies’ maiden on the final day of Newmarket’s 2010 season, is moving with a lot of enthusiasm.

“Heatherbird, a Shamardal filly who showed promise on her only start last year at Leicester, has thrived over the winter and is making up into a fine-looking filly. Oriental Scot is also moving well.

“So we are looking forward to the start of the turf season with those horses. I can also report that the two-year-olds continue to please me.

“Although we probably haven’t got enough of them, the ones we have look nice.

“While it is probably too premature to single them out, I do like an Exceed And Excel colt called Cappielow Park. At this stage, he seems a horse with the right attitude.”