Two weeks on and 7-2 second favourite Rock My Soul’s proven stamina and ability to handle the soft still mark him out as a good bet in the Highlands Stud Winter Derby.

Rain yesterday and the forecast of more today looks like turning the ground testing once again and Donovan Dillon’s mount is the only horse in the field to have won over the distance and in the conditions.

Joey Ramsden, bidding for his fourth Winter Derby, cautions that a number of horses in his Milnerton yard have had dirty trachea washes recently but all his runners tomorrow are being tested beforehand.

Rock My Soul

He is also keen on 6-1 chance Ancestry, a horse in whom most punters have lost faith as he has repeatedly failed to cut the mustard this term. “He has been doing very well at home,” advises his trainer who, significantly, is taking the blinkers off. “Rock My Soul stays and seems to go in the wet. As Paddington’s second to African Night Sky last year proved, you don’t have to be a Grade 1 winner to run well in this race.”

Doublemint bids to become the third consecutive Winter Derby winner for Snaith Racing and, at 18-10, the third successful favourite in four years. He has not been further than 1 800m and has not won in the ground. However his stable does not expect problems on either front. “He is by Twice Over who loved the wet,” says Jono Snaith. “In fact the more rain that falls the better for us with horses like Red Ginger (Ladies Mile) running.”

Spring Man (4-1) has won twice over 2 000m and is bred to appreciate the extra here. “We are not worried about the rain and I think he has a good chance,” says Brett Crawford. “We are going to ride him a bit differently this time, more patiently.”

The Snaith second string Love Happens (13-2) was only just behind Spring Man in the Winter Classic and is by Silvano although he has still to prove he can handle the ground.

Helen’s Ideal could be the best bet of the day at 5-1 in the Irridescence. She was impressive on debut and fourth-placed Dirty Nelly boosted the form here on Tuesday.

Charles also did well to win first time but the talented One World looks a tough nut to crack in the Langerman and the Vaughan Marshall colt can prove a worthy 5-2 favourite despite giving weight all round.

Brave Move can extend her winning run to five in the Ladies Mile (but don’t forget Red Ginger, a big price at 18-1) while Fresnaye should land the odds in the Winter Oaks.

By Michael Clower