Grimm takes flight

Tales Of Grimm is out to book his place at Royal Ascot when he reappears in the Betfair Heron Stakes at Sandown on Thursday.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt had just the one run as a juvenile when he defeated the useful Firdaws by a head in a seven-furlong maiden at Newbury in August.

"We've been waiting for good ground for him and a suitable race," said Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden.

"Clearly he will need this run, but we've been pleased with what he has done so far. Hopefully we'll go to Ascot with him, but this is a race that will tell us a bit more about him and what sort of level he's at.

"We are expecting him to run well, but, being realistic, it is his first run of the season and we'll see how we go."

Top Offer attempts to bounce back from a disappointing run in the 2000 Guineas when connections felt he simply could not handle the going.

The Khalid Abdullah-owned colt went into the Newmarket Classic as a leading contender on the back of a highly promising debut success at Newbury last summer.

"He's in good form. The ground hopefully will be fast tomorrow. He didn't like it at Newmarket," said trainer Roger Charlton.

Cogito made a belated racecourse bow when successful in a Newmarket maiden last month and his trainer Brian Meehan is looking forward to the son of Giant's Causeway tackling stronger company.

"Impressive maiden winner at Newmarket last month. He takes a big step up in class here, and while at an experience disadvantage with most, deserves his shot at this level," read a statement posted on the Manton handler's website, www.brianmeehan.co.uk.