15:45 Doncaster

With Roger Varian going so well at the moment it might not surprise you that both my Notebook runners on Thursday are from his yard. The first of them runs at Doncaster in the shape of ZAINALARAB. This colt by Wootton Bassett has won 3 in a row since needing his debut run. He impressed again on handicap debut at Sandown last month and the way he won there going away at the finish suggests he is a horse to keep firmly on side today and going forward. He is up 5lb but almost certainly has more to offer so should take a bit of beating. Spirit Of Nguru wasn’t disgraced at Goodwood and he should still have more to come so might be the danger. Billyb continues to run well and that second at Thirsk last time is hard to knock again so at a bigger price I expect him to be giving his all as well and might be worth backing to hit the frame here.

17:05 Chelmsford City

The money really came for CENTREFOLD at Haydock last week but she ended up being a non runner in the end. This filly by Showcasing was an expensive purchase and she was well backed on debut. She was awkward away though and then the action materialised away from her. She came with her run up the rail but didn’t really have anything to run down. Once the groups merged she was hampered up the rail by Love Affairs and Andrea Atzeni was easy on her after that to finish fourth. She will know a lot more now and I think that is a strong piece of form in the context of this race so 9/4 looks worth snapping up. Funny Story impressed winning on debut but that form has taken a few knocks since and she completely blew out at Newbury last time. The danger might end up being the debutant Turquoise Diamond who is bred to be pretty smart.