Interesting two days coming up as the juveniles take the spotlight

August 4

They might be the equivalent of kids having their first day at infants school, but Alan only has 10 two-year-olds, so he is understandably excited about seeing three of them in action over the next two days.

First up tomorrow over the extended seven furlongs at Ffos Las is Pompette with Rob Hornby aboard. This filly was  a 65,000gns purchase at the Breeze-Up Sales at Newmarket’s Craven meeting in April, and she carries the colours of Susannah Ricci, who, together with her colourful husband Rich Ricci, have owned some of the best jump horses in Ireland, most recently the brilliant hurdler Lossiemouth.

Pompette is a daughter of French Derby winner New Bay, whose progeny include that money-spinning mare Saffron Beach, who won  the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot, plus a G1 at Deauville, and also Champion Stakes hero Bay Bridge.

Next up comes Albertini Star, for whom Alan has booked Rossa Ryan in Newbury’s opener to their evening meeting, a seven furlong contest for fillies, all newcomers.

Albertini Star, bought for £40,000 at Goffs last April, is a daughter of Acclamation, sire of the multiple G1 winning Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior, but also closer to home sire of the likes of Nunthorpe winner Marsha and King Stand Stakes hero Equiano.

On Wednesday at Kempton’s all-weather fixture Alan starts off with Plan C, who was the first of the Barbury youngsters to be tried on the track, having made a pleasing debut at Newbury last month.

Green early, the penny dropped for Plan C in the final furlong and he was so strong going through the line that Rossa, who rides again, had a job pulling him up.

And finally the three-year-old Alcarath, who has already been gelded, makes his belated debut in the second division of the mile novice, with the in-form Charlie Bishop in the saddle.

At £280,000 from Goffs last September, Alcarath – the closest name Alan could get to his favourite tennis player Alcaraz – is another son of Acclamation, and he impressed me when doing a sharp breeze up the all-weather on a recent visit.

Alcarath comes from a good family too, being a full-brother to the smart Orne, while trace the line further back and you will come across Crystal Music, who won the G1 Fillies Mile for John Gosden and Frankie dettori at Ascot in 2000.

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