WITH most of the top jumpers safely packed off for their summer holidays the focus is now firmly on the Flat stars. The first two Classics of the season last weekend kicked off the summer in style and there is so much to look forward to in the coming months.

Here’s ten horses I think will be worth following this season.

Bashkirova (William Haggas)
When it comes to training racehorses, the patient approach is usually best in the long term. That’s the way William Haggas likes to operate so it’s not a bad thing that Bashkirova didn’t make her debut until August of her three-year-old season. She won that race and went on to rattle up a hat-trick over a mile before finding 1m2f on soft ground too much of a test in a Doncaster Listed contest. This granddaughter of top-class Russian Rhythm is sure to make her mark in Group races this season having made a promising return to action when runner-up at Goodwood last weekend.

Bay Bridge (Sir Michael Stoute)
The London Gold Cup is one of the hottest handicaps of the season and it’s been won by subsequent Group 1 winners in the past. That bodes well for Bay Bridge as he won that Newbury contest by an impressive four lengths last spring. He went on to complete a superb four-timer when landing the Listed James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket in October. There should be plenty more to come as a four-year-old this season when Group races over 1m2f and 1m4f are sure to be in his sights.

Desert Crown (Sir Michael Stoute)
It’s not all that often that Sir Michael Stoute wins with a first-time-out two-year-old. When he does, it’s time to take notice. And the way Desert Crown won on his debut at Nottingham in the last week of the turf season suggests the future is bright for this well-bred colt. He saw out the mile distance so strongly as he stormed home by more than five lengths from some experienced rivals, suggesting he’ll be a force in middle distance races this season. As a son of Nathaniel, his pedigree also suggests stamina will be his forte so it will be interesting to see if he is ready to take in one of the Derby trials.

Diligent Harry (Clive Cox)
Clive Cox has guided the career of some superb sprinters. Harry Angel and Lethal Force were both champions and I reckon his latest star, Diligent Harry, might well be up to winning at the top level. He came a long way in a short space of time last season. Having made his debut in January on Wolverhampton’s all-weather track, he won twice more before switching to turf. His neck second to Happy Romance in the Group 3 Hackwood Stakes at Newbury proved he is not far off the best and he returned this season by filling the same position in Doncaster’s Cammidge Trophy. He’ll improve a lot for that run and it’s not pure fantasy to think he could win the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Kingmax (David Loughnane)
There was every reason to think Kingmax might make up into a smart two-year-old last season having finished runner-up on his first two starts for Roger Varian. He wasn’t seen after the second of those in late May and when he returned this season it was for David Loughnane. The way he stormed home on Kempton’s all-weather suggested he had done well over the winter but it was still a little surprising he was pitched into the Craven Stakes for his next start. He was far from disgraced in finishing fourth behind Native Trail and he didn’t really get the rub of the green as he had to continually switch out into the middle of the track. The way he came home pointed to a horse who will probably come into his own over further so he should have plenty of opportunities this year.

Laatansa (William Haggas)
There can be few more promising maidens than Laatansa. He ran three times last season for Ed Dunlop and the form of his place finishes in back-end maidens has worked out very well. This three-year-old son of one of my favourite stallions, New Bay, has moved to William Haggas in the Shadwell shuffle and there’s no better trainer to exploit his handicap rating. He should be a force in some of the best handicaps over the coming months with one of Royal Ascot’s trophies an obvious target. Later on, he could easily develop into a Group performer.

Manobo (Charlie Appleby)
Godolphin ace Manobo might have lost his unbeaten record when runner-up in a Meydan Group 2 but he should win plenty of races this summer. He kicked off his career in style by beating subsequent Derby second Mojo Star at Newbury before rattling up a four-timer. His unbeaten start to his career stretched to five when he won over 1m6f in Dubai and, while he had previously won over 1m7f on testing ground in France, he has the pace to drop back in distance if he needs to. Having said that, the Yorkshire Cup over 1m6f looks an ideal starting point.

Night Battle (Simon & Ed Crisford)
It’s not easy for an unraced horse to win on their debut when taking on more experienced runners.
When the opposition has shown fair form it’s even more tricky and when you fluff the start it’s harder still. So to overcome all those obstacles, it was a promising performance from Night Battle to win on her first start at Lingfield in early April. She’s from a superb family containing the likes of Group 1 winner Timepiece as well as stacks of other smart performers. There’s sure to be more races in this top prospect.

Samburu (John & Thady Gosden)
This well-bred Juddmonte colt was my number one horse to follow from last season. He put in a stunning performance on his debut at Yarmouth. The way he overcame a slow start to win with plenty up his sleeve had me jotting his name down into my little black book. So it was great to see him make a winning return at Salisbury against a competitive field. This horse is very much a work in progress but I have no doubt he has the potential to be very good. With that in mind, he should come into his own later in the season and it’s far from impossible that he could be top class.

Whoputfiftyinyou (Clive Cox)
There was a lot to like about Whoputfiftyinyou’s juvenile campaign. He beat useful Al Barez on his debut at Haydock and followed up under a penalty on Kempton’s all-weather in October. Those efforts were pretty good but I was blown away by his performance when making a successful return at Newbury’s Greenham meeting. He won with plenty up his sleeve and he should continue to progress. It’ll most probably be another handicap next but there’s no telling where he could finish up.