Spyce is nice, so we are all looking forward to his racecourse debut at York on Friday

August 20

Alan has been looking forward to seeing his Too Darn Hot colt Spyce make his racecourse debut, and this Newmarket Breeze-Up   purchase – at 280,000gs the most expensive Alan has ever made – is ready to roll in the Convivial Stakes at York on Friday.

Last year’s Convivial winner, Angelo Buonarroti, went on to finish third to the smart Wimbledon Hawkeye in the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket, but Alan, who has been delighted how well Spyce has been shaping up on the gallops, knows only too well that this is the equivalent of a youngster’s first day at school and he is hoping that it be a great learning curve for Spyce.

This seven furlongs will probably be the shortest distance that Spyce ever runs as there is no shortage of stamina in his pedigree, with the dam’s side including Seal of Approval, who won the Champion Fillies and Mares over the mile and a half at Ascot 12 years ago.

Of course there is speed, too, as Too Darn Hot has already sired a superstar in Fallen Angel, who has achieved the rare distinction of having won G1 races at two, three and four years old, so, hopefully, Spyce will have inherited a bit of both from his mum and dad.

Rossa Ryan rides Spyce, and Alan has also booked him for Insanity in the opening Heritage Handicap. Insanity is best suited by an end-to-end gallop, so he did well to finish third in what was a sedately-run race at the recent Shergar Cup meeting at Ascot. Granted, a decent pace on the Knavesmire, Insanity, who will be looking for a fifth success, must have an each-way chance.

Meanwhile, we have two horses heading down the M5 tomorrow for Newton Abbot. Finest View has been making hay over fences while the sun shone this summer, winning at Huntingdon, Bangor and Stratford.

The Pitchall Stud’s home-bred mare returned to Stratford in a bid for the four-timer last month, and she made a brave attempt to pull it off, only to be run out of it on the short run-in, being beaten a head by Nicky Henderson’s Arclight. The handicapper has set her a stiff enough task, but she is in great form and with only five opponents we are looking for another big run.

We also have is Theonlywayiswessex in Newton Abbot’s finale, the two and a half mile handicap chase. A versatile performer, Theonlywayiswessex has been ultra-consistent, winning at Plumpton before Christmas and then after a winter break returning with two creditable efforts, being placed at Worcester and Stratford. This looks a competitive race and he, too, gets little respite from the official assessor, but hopefully he can finish in the money yet again.