Laureldean Far Too Big at 20-1

Anyone waiting with bated breath for the British Horse racing Authority to reveal their strategic review of fixtures would have been distinctly unimpressed when the main points were revealed earlier this week. There was recognition of too much (moderate) racing but the measures put forward to deal with it appeared half-hearted.

Saturday racing, described as the sport's "shop window", came in for special mention with three Saturdays, in March, April and May, identified as weak spots. No prizes for guessing that this weekend is one the BHA will want to beef up in future.

While Saturday week is buzzing, with Guineas trials at Newbury plus the Scottish Grand National at Ayr, Listed races at Doncaster and Kempton this weekend make for a dull shop window. No one can say the Easter Stakes and Masaka Stakes are better for being run on an artificial surface at Kempton.

At least the Doncaster Mile will tell us if Peter Chapple-Hyam's Don't Panic is better than a handicapper - that certainly looked the case when the four-year-old ran away with the William Hill Spring Mile here last month, clocking a very smart time.

It took jockey Alan Munro an age to pull up after they charged past the winning post. Clearly, Don't Panic finished full of running, but he is said to have a sensitive mouth, so Munro would not have wanted to apply the brakes too severely.

Revision of the 1,000 Guineas betting this week, following the news that former ante-post favorite Listen would not run, brought an ex-Chapple-Hyam filly to mind. Laureldean Gale, now with Godolphin, can still be backed at 20-1.

Laureldean Gale is a delicate filly and she boiled over before running badly on her only start for Godolphin at Longchamp. But she looked top class when running Proviso close at Deauville and will be a leading player if produced in good shape on Guineas day. She has an official rating of 114, compared with the 86 of the Chapple-Hyam hope Cape Amber who is, nevertheless, trading at half Laureldean Gale's odds.

Ron Cox's tip of the day

Icannshift 5.00 Folkestone

This race last year was one of four course and distance successes for Icannshift, on going varying from good to firm to heavy. He runs this time off the same mark as when short-heading Bienheureux in August and should be much better for his reappearance outing when well beaten at Warwick late last month. William Carson is one of the better riders set to take part.