MARCUS Tregoning has not had the memorable start to the season that many expected as winter 2000 Guineas and Derby favourite Nayef has failed to live up to expectations.

But he looks to have a progressive performer in Mubtaker and the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt can land the Regional Newspaper Of The Year Leicester Mercury Stakes tomorrow.

Mubtaker kicked off his four-year-old campaign with a creditable third in the Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.

He had a barging match with So Precious approaching the last two furlongs before staying on nicely to finish just three lengths behind Border Arrow.

He progressed again when touched off by Zindabad in a conditions event at Newmarket on 2000 Guineas day. He moved up easily to join the leader and ran on strongly to only lose out by a short-head.

Mubtaker finally hit the target this term when he again showed his battling qualities to repel the challenge of Nooshman in a Listed event at Goodwood.

Nooshman headed him at one stage but Mubtaker knuckled down really well and would not be denied. There may well be more to come and he could be a Group-class performer in the making.

Sean Woods' Tudor Wood may have caught something of hot-pot on his debut at Leicester and can get off the mark himself in the Property Guide Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

He ran into John Gosden's Coventry Stakes-bound Rehearsal Hall last time and, although he was not going to trouble the winner, he was running on encouragingly in the closing stages.

As the winner had got first run after Tudor Wood was short of room over a furlong out, it was a very encouraging performance.