![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AMENDED-2-NEW-DX-GRAPHICS-MARCH-2026-SCOUT-TOP-TIPS-6915274.jpg\" "\\"The")
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The Scout provides her top tips for this week (Image: Daily Express)<\/p>\n
Melissa, aka The Scout, is the current Racing Post National Press Challenge champion after she led the field of 11 tipsters to the finish in 2025. The stamina-sapping competition was based on more than 9,600 selections throughout the year. A good final furlong helped her cause, but Melissa has maintained her form – and set a new record by finishing top of the standings for a fourth month on the trot in February before tipping this year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Gaelic Warrior.<\/strong><\/p>\n York’s Dante Festival is upon us this week with 11 horses going on to glory in the Classic the main race trials horses for the Derby at Epsom. The ante-post picture has become clearer of late, bookmakers promoting the Aidan O’Brien-trained Benvenuto Cellini to 9-4 favourite in the days following his four-and-a-quarter length Chester Vase success.<\/p>\n Constitution River is next in at 5-1 with William Hill after he came through his Roodee trial well, but there are some doubts over his participation, with the shorter French Derby a nominated alternative. Then there is Maltese Cross for owner and film producer George Waud, a stamina-laden thoroughbred with battling qualities and a touch of class.<\/p>\n Stablemate Morshdi has been rerouted to the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes from Chester where the team felt the ground was unsuitable.<\/p>\n Unbeaten Frankel colt Item, only rated 93 and for whom the Derby distance might be a bit of a stretch, is entered in Thursday’s contest for in-form Andrew Balding, while the John and Thady Gosden-saddled Saxon Street could try and step up on his Blue Riband Trial exploits at the Derby venue just over two weeks ago.<\/p>\n I’m keen to see which runners, of the 12 in the mix, are declared and where the pace is going to come from before making a selection.<\/p>\n With more experienced horses to assess, there is an early tip for the Group Two Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Middleton Fillies’ Stakes and that is FALLEN ANGEL (3.30)<\/strong>, 9-2 with bet365 ante-post.<\/p>\n See The Fire bolted up by 12 lengths last year and is 5-4 for a repeat, but that is skinny considering she is meeting better quality rivals here.<\/p>\n Fallen Angel has been a star for Karl Burke and owners Wathnan Racing, winning the Group One 2025 Sun Chariot Stakes, Matron Stakes, Prix Rothschild and the Irish 1,000 Guineas in 2024.<\/p>\n Her trainer was able to give her more races than any other time of her career last season and she was relentless from the front on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile when gaining her most recent first.<\/p>\n The runner-up Blue Bolt, beaten two-and-a-quarter lengths, is no slouch and Cathedral, just behind one of this week’s rivals Diamond Rain Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, was back in fifth.<\/p>\n I’m really looking forward to seeing what Fallen Angel can do at ten furlongs, as a speedier type than fellow top tier runner Kalpana, whose Juddmonte ownermate Red Letter has Ryan Moore down to ride.<\/p>\n Some rain is on the way to hopefully take any firm out of the ground for Burke’s trainee, who will hopefully be fit enough to do herself justice.<\/p>\n The last daughter of Grade One globetrotter Dank in James Wigan’s silks, LILT (2.20)<\/strong>, holds entries in the Coronation, Pretty Polly and Irish Oaks.<\/p>\n Her dam, who died in 2023 at the age of 14, captured the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf over 1m 2f at Santa Anita and the slightly shorter Beverly D. Stakes around Arlington Park.<\/p>\n William Haggas sent Lilt to an end-of-season maiden at Doncaster in October, where she made all over seven furlongs on soft ground.<\/p>\n Her half-sister Doom was last seen taking a Listed event at a mile and Friday’s same level Sky Bet Fillies’ Stakes on the Knavesmire is one option for the youngest member of the family.<\/p>\n Haggas has also entered Lilt in a mile novice on the same card and she is one to keep an eye on having learned plenty without having a hard race on debut.<\/p>\n