Racing TV presenters and pundits pick their Flat horses to follow

This time last year, our presenters and pundits picked out some beauties to follow on the Flat, including Yibir, who scored three times, including at the Breeders' Cup (Tom Stanley), another three-time winner in Stay Well, who scored at 10-1 and 6-1 (John O'Connell), and dual winners Urgent Appeal (Mark Johnson) and Annandale (Ed Watson).

Other winners included Flying Moon at 9-1 (Gordon Brown), Hamish at 9-1 (Stewart Machin), Willow at 11-2 (Fran Berry), Love (Jane Mangan), Al Zaraqaan (Mark Howard), Chindit (Richard Hoiles), Sea Empress (Niall Hannity) and Beau Jardine (Eddie Fremantle).

Our expert team of pundits and presenters have compiled a list of horses to stay on the right side of during the 2022 Flat season. Simply click on the horse’s name below and then the binocular icon. You can keep track of your horses are via the Racing TV Tracker page.

Trainer: Ed Walker.

Age: 4.

He really got his act together after being gelded mid-season last year. I’ve seen him at Ed Walker’s after his winter break and he’s done extremely well physically. I think he can develop into a very smart horse for owner Laurence Bellman.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien.

Age: 3.

By Galileo, he created a very good impression on debut over seven furlongs in October. Having raced green and off the bridle from an early stage, he found plenty for pressure inside the last furlong to beat two horses with previous strong form. Aidan O Brien has the current Derby favourite in Luxembourg but, at a general 33-1 for that contest, Star Of India is worth a look.

Trainer: Iain Jardine.

Age: 4.

This is a horse who did nothing but improve last season and he is expected to continue on the upgrade in 2022. Staying races, with ease underfoot, will again be targeted as there is plenty of stamina on his dam’s side of the family. He will reportedly undergo a similar campaign to that of stable companion Ravenscraig Castle and his shrewd connections will be disappointed if he can’t pick up a nice prize or two.

Trainer: William Haggas.

Age: 4.

From a standout Cheveley Park family, Bashkirova made rapid progress last season having not seen a racecourse until the August of her three-year-old career. Clearly learning as she developed, she rattled off a hat trick before finding ten furlongs too much of a test at Doncaster in deep ground on her final start. Back to around a mile, her trainer can find plenty of opportunities to find black type success and make her a valuable broodmare prospect.

Trainer: William Haggas.

Age: 3.

An interesting addition to William Haggas’ all conquering yard, the thrice raced son of New Bay shaped with plenty of encouragement for the future being placed twice at Newmarket when under the guidance of Ed Dunlop. Beaten less than two lengths by the unbeaten New London over ten furlongs, he was purchased for 250,000gns in late October. He looks tailormade for those valuable ten or 12 furlongs three-year-old handicaps and looks potential Royal Ascot material.

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden

Age: 3

Backend Yarmouth novice races have been a rich source of smart horses down the years. This son of Kingman was incredibly impressive when winning on his debut at the seaside track in October. The Classics might well come too early for him, but he should make up for it later in the season when I'm sure he has a big race win in him.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby.

Age: 3.

When it comes to star colts entering their Classic year, it’s fair to say that Charlie Appleby has a constellation of them. Native Trail and/or Coroebus are likely the first to spring to mind but I’m a fan of Goldspur.

He is a beautifully-bred son of Dubawi (out of a Lancashire Oaks winner) and although showing lots of ability at two he did show inexperience – the aborted trip to Epsom in September springs to mind – but I’m hopeful he can be a leading player in some strong middle-distance races this summer.

Trainer: John & Thady Gosden.

Age: 3.

A perfect four from four as a juvenile, she was dominant in her juvenile year but possesses a pedigree which suggests 2022 could be even better. She could be the star of the season.

Trainer: Dermot Weld.

Age: 3.

A staying-on third in a seven-furlong maiden at the Galway Festival last July on his racecourse debut, Duke De Sessa was impressive in winning his maiden over a mile at The Curragh in August. He was well beaten in a red-hot National Stakes next time, but the fact that trainer Dermot Weld thought enough of him to allow him to take his chance was significant, and he was impressive in winning the Group Three Eyrefield Stakes over nine furlongs on his final run. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree – his dam won the Melrose Handicap – but he has enough pace to be effective over a mile in the before stepping up in trip as the season develops.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby.

Age: 5.

Lazuli is a powerful son of Dubawi who looks every inch a sprinter. He won a Group Three at Newmarket in a very fast time last season and began this season with a facile success at Meydan. Appropriately that race was named after the brilliant Blue Point and this horse could be the best sprinter Godolphin have had since him. He is effective at six furlongs, but it will always be at the minimum trip where we see the best of this horse. Reportedly he will go straight to the King's Stand at Royal Ascot where he will be tough to beat.

Trainer: Kevin Ryan.

Age: 3.

A lovely colt by the exciting Almanzor, he won his only start to date when green before running on strongly to win going away. Haydock maidens and novices often produce smart horses and I think this could be one of them. He looks the type to improve for age.

Trainer: Ralph Beckett.

Age: 3.

He justified strong support in a 1m1f nursery at Newmarket at the end of October. Rob Hornby's mount traveled smoothly before skipping clear of toiling rivals. True, he wandered around in front, but the colt is still learning. His rating will rise from 75 after that dominant display but there's scope for progress, especially over further. Exciting. For more of Peter's free notebook horses go to www.peternaughton.com

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien.

Age: 3.

Tuesday only made it to the track once as a juvenile but this beautifully-bred filly can make up for lost time this year. A narrow defeat to subsequent Moyglare heroine Discoveries on Irish Derby weekend represented a hugely promising debut effort from the Ballydoyle inmate, and she looks like she can develop into a serious classic contender.

Trainer: William Haggas.

Age: 3.

Unbeaten in two starts at the end of the year, the notable feature was the confidence behind the son of Golden Horn on his Lingfield debut. Newcomers from this yard generally need the experience but the support wasn't misplaced, and his Chelmsford victory was another step up the ladder. Both wins have been at one mile, but he will have no trouble getting further and there is surely more to come.

Trainer: Ger Lyons.

Age: 3.

Winner of her first four starts including a Listed race at Tipperary and the Group Three Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh over six furlongs. She disappointed when stepping up to Group One level in the Cheveley Park Stakes, but I don’t think this was a true reflection of her ability and I think you can forgive this performance. She is related to winners over one mile to ten furlongs and I think she is one of serious interest if she handles a step up in trip. If she progresses from two to three-years-old, she could really stamp her authority as a high-class filly.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby.

Age: 3.

He's not out of left field but I think this horse will make a better three-year-old than stable companion and current Guineas favourite Native Trail. That, ultimately, is down to the fact that he's a son of Dubawi who looks like he'll seriously improve with time. He somehow managed to get beaten in the Royal Lodge before a far smoother performance when winning the Autumn Stakes and he should cut it at the very top level up to ten furlongs this year.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby.

Age: 3.

Having looked slow, raw and perhaps something else on debut, Nahanni sharpened up his act noticeably at Kempton a month later. He pleasingly dug out a win that night hinting at abundant stamina, underlined by his pedigree. Maybe he’ll need other headgear, perhaps he just needs a thorough test, but he’s one for 12 to 14-furlong+ handicaps going forward.

Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute.

Age: 3.

Nottingham in November isn't the most obvious starting point in the hunt for potential Classic contenders. Yet Desert Crown, a 280,000gns son of Enable's sire Nathaniel, lit up a late autumnal afternoon at Colwick Park with a polished debut display. The bare form is nothing spectacular. But the way he powered clear from the furlong pole, under a hands-and-heels ride from Richard Kingscote, certainly was. He clocked comfortably the quickest time of the four races over the extended 1m that day, in a maiden not lacking pedigree – its recent winners include top-drawer performers Mishriff (2019) and Space Blues (2018). A Derby entry, Desert Crown is in the right hands to enjoy a fruitful three-year-old campaign.