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Millville could have enough zip in the Dragonfly Stakes

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Graham Cunningham welcomes the flat season by not betting in the Lincoln. Some may call it a controversial view, but not when he has a wealth of options to choose from elsewhere.

Swerve the Lincoln and support Hockenheim to get on the right track:

If bookmakers tried to script the type of race which would be most likely to get their Flat season off to a flyer it would look something like the Lincoln.

First, there are 22 runners; second, well over half of them haven't run for ages; third, most of the field are well known to the handicapper; and fourth, assessing the effects of the draw and recent rain can be a thankless task.

With all those factors in mind I will be sticking to less complicated puzzles this weekend and Hockenheim will be one of my main bets in the 3.05 at Carlisle.

Flying Falcon heads the opposition in this novice chase and, with the excellent Aidan Coleman claiming 7lb, this Chepstow winner looks bound to go well.

However, Hockenheim was a useful hurdler and has caught the eye on both his runs over fences. The latest came over three miles at Newcastle, where he travelled very strongly for a long way only to tire into third once the highly promising The Whisperer asserted.

On that evidence, Hockenheim will be very well suited by this step down to two and a half miles. He's a course winner, which is an added plus, and with Howard Johnson's horses back in form he looks well worth an interest.

Millville the value in Kempton feature:

Kempton officials will be frustrated that their featured Dragonfly Stakes at 4.25 has attracted just six runners, and the small field could help decide the outcome.

Those who got fat backing Malt Or Mash during a romp through the handicap ranks last year will be loath to desert him, but Richard Hannon's likeable grey has made his name coming from off the pace in big fields on turf.

A more tactical battle on Fibresand asks a different question and, at the likely odds, it might pay to take him on with the evergreen Millville.

Michael Jarvis has placed this gelding with typical skill over the last few months. A gutsy handicap success off a mark of 106 at Wolverhampton last time represented a career best and a reproduction this weekend will take Millville very close indeed.

Up at Doncaster it will be interesting to see what the Betfair market makes of Internationaldebut when he reappears in the maiden at 4.35.

This High Chaparral colt faces a couple of fair rivals and, given how well Barry Hills fares at this fixture, Tharawaat is bound to be popular. However, Internationaldebut ran two fine races from three starts as a juvenile.

He travelled sweetly for a long way in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy here last October and will be tough to beat over a trip that should suit him well on pedigree.

Venalmar the pick of the Festival eyecatchers:

As ever, Cheltenham threw up any number of horses who will make their presence felt at some big shows before next year's Festival.

Binocular ran a screamer to chase home Captain Cee Bee in the Supreme Novices', while Thyne Again's fine Arkle fourth suggests he has a bright future in Irish conditions races.

Silverburn failed to get home in the SunAlliance Chase but will gain reward for his excellent jumping back over shorter, while Zaarito's luckless passage in the Bumper will be a distant memory once he starts rattling off hurdles wins.

And finally, there is Venalmar. A big, handsome gelding who took the eye constantly in the paddock, he jumped like a buck in the Ballymore Hurdle and stayed on gallantly to chase home Fiveforthree. His was a performance of tremendous promise and there is no finer chasing prospect on either side of the Irish Sea for next season.

Ruby sees red as "Thommo" asks the hard questions:

The Fez also threw up a classic example of how sportsmen ought to deal with idiotic media questions. Naturally, the man with the mike was Derek "Thommo" Thompson and the rider was Ruby "Rueful" Walsh after Kauto Star's defeat by Denman.

Thompson, raising the bar still further in the insensitivity stakes, asked Walsh whether he had "any thoughts about whether you should have gone for Denman?"

Ruby said "that's the most ridiculous question I've ever been asked." Thompson grinned and responded by saying "I know, but I had to ask it." Ruby, swiftly and dismissively, snapped "no you didn't."

It's only right that jockeys should attract flak when they make a ballsup. And it's only right that broadcasters get short shrift when they fail to prepare properly.

We might have to wait a while before Walsh makes another serious error. Sadly, the wait for another Thompson case of foot in mouth may not be so lengthy.

Cunningham's weekend selections:

Carlisle, 3.05, Hockenheim

Kempton, 4.25, Millville

Doncaster, 4.35, Internationaldebut