Ahern’s Musselburgh debut joy has trainer Barron looking ahead to Royal Ascot options

The Dutch Art colt, who sports the colours of the influential Qatar Racing, was sharp enough to beat more experienced rivals in the five-furlong Edinburgh Castle Stakes under Graham Gibbons.

“He’s a nice horse,” said the Thirsk handler. “He’d been showing plenty at home as we think a bit about him.

“He’s a big, strong sort of horse and hopefully one with a future. He’s got a lot of speed and will have learned a bit the other day.

“Obviously it’s down to (owner) Sheikh Fahad, but I would have thought he’d end up going to Ascot where the obvious races would be the Windsor Castle and the Norfolk.”

Hello Bud, the perennial Grand National contender that has launched the career of top jumps rider Sam Twiston-Davies, reappears at Cartmel today.

At the venerable age of 14, Hello Bud – trained by the jockey’s father Nigel – is the oldest in the field for the Stone Source Grand Veterans’ Handicap Chase.

Without a win since the 2010 Becher Chase, he was anything but disgraced in this year’s National when finishing seventh to Neptune Collonges.

“The race is ideal for him,” said Twiston-Davies snr. “It should be right up his street and he goes there in really good nick.”

The William Haggas-trained Stencive, once thought of as a Derby prospect, could make his mark in tonight’s SIS Live Maiden Stakes at Ripon.

Having shown definite promise in his sole two-year-old start at Newbury in October, the Dansili colt was fourth to Frankel’s brother, Noble Mission, at Newmarket last month and left the distinct impression that there is more to come.

A silent auction has already been launched online by York racecourse ahead of the Macmillan charity day on June 16, an event that has raised £5.2m for good causes in its 42-year history.

Prizes include a private tour of the Queen’s Stud at Sandringham, a diving holiday in Tanzania as well as signed breeches from current champion jockey Paul Hanagan.

This year’s raceday sees a new Listed race added to the programme – and a charity contest where 12 Macmillan supporters can “ride the dream” in a nine-furlong contest.