A TREMENDOUS card has been assembled for the opening afternoon of the Craven meeting at Newmarket and Obliterator is set to play a leading role in the ebm-papst Feilden Stakes.

The Ger Lyons-trained colt was seen just once last season but created a really strong impression in finishing powerfully to claim a maiden at the Curragh over a mile.

While the bare form appears to be nothing special, the Oratorio colt could do no more than win like he did and is bred to be pretty good as a half-brother to Irish 1,000 Guineas victor Just The Judge.

Lyons has his sights set on the Newmarket Guineas, so this is the perfect reconnaissance mission, but he also holds an Irish Derby engagement and the way he came home at the Curragh suggests nine furlongs on the Rowley Mile should be right up his street.

Shifting Power should take a deal of beating in the CSP European Free Handicap. This Compton Place colt could easily turn out to be one of the top guns at the Richard Hannon yard this season if he has improved from what was a very taking run at Newmarket in August, and pre-race quotes of 25-1 for the 2000 Guineas might look generous, in hindsight.

A mere shake of the reins from RIchard Hughes was essentially enough as he strode clear of Treaty Of Paris, who was left trailing by six lenghts. To put the performance into context, the runner-up was good enough to win the Acomb at York next time out.

The Lanwades Stud Nell Gwyn Stakes has a wide-open look to it, with preference for Folk Melody.

With just one run to date, she is open to more improvement than virtually the entire field and holds the right sorts of entries.

That outing in July was a successful one, and saw her move sweetly before showing a nice turn of foot to see off Enraptured, a winner since.

The fourth home, Dancealot, has gone on to have decent form with recent Fred Darling winner J Wonder, so the run looks a solid one and she could turn out to be really smart.