SERGEANT Cecil, one of the most popular horses in training, makes his seasonal debut at Newbury this weekend.

Trainer Rod Millman reports the stayer on target for Saturday's Dubai Tennis Championship Stakes, formerly the John Porter Stakes.

Fourth in the race last year, the distinctive chestnut went on to take York's Lonsdale Stakes, the Doncaster Cup and finally the Prix du Cadran at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting.

Regular jockey Alan Munro is convalescing but Millman hopes Frankie Dettori will be available.

"Alan was the making of the horse, but Frankie is proving a more than able deputy and we hope he will be available," he said.

"We will be taking a very similar route to last season and Newbury fits in nicely with our plans. Ultimately, he will be aimed at the Ascot Gold Cup, although it may surprise some people to learn we are keen on a crack at Epsom's Coronation Cup."

The two-day fixture opens the curtain on Newbury's flat-race season and features the Dubai Duty Free Stakes (formerly the Fred Darling Stakes) and the Lane's End-sponsored Greenham Stakes. Both races have proved valuable pointers to the season's classics.

Like Millman, trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam hopes Dettori will be available to ride the 2000 Guineas second favourite Dutch Art in the Greenham.

The unbeaten colt rounded off last season with an impressive success in the Middle Park Stakes and looks a real star in the making.

Lambourn trainer Barry Hills, who won last year's Greenham with Red Clubs, bids for a follow-up success with French pattern winner Captain Marvellous. The colt has a bit to find but is fit and well and one of three Hills entries in the 2000 Guineas.

Hills' son and assistant, Charlie, said: "Captain Marvellous is a lovely colt with some nice form. We like introducing our horses at Newbury."

The local challenge is given further strength with the news that Mick Channon's Halicarnassus is also likely to be in the line-up. Held in high regard by the former Southampton footballer, the booking of big race jockey Darryll Holland looks a positive.

Another horse with classic aspirations is Richard Hannon's Indian Ink in the Dubai Duty Free.

The winner of last season's Cheveley Park Stakes, Indian Ink is currently best priced at 25-1 for the fillies' classic and that might look good value if she is successful on Saturday.

Hannon has made his customary fast start to the season and may be represented by Royal Ascot runner-up Major Cadeaux in the colts trial. He has wintered well and is currently as low as 14-1 for the Newmarket classic.

The big betting race on Saturday is the Bloor Homes Spring Cup over the straight mile.

There has been a strong word around the Lambourn valley for Stanley Moore's Macedon, who has strengthened up over the winter and would represent good each-way value.

  • Increased prize money of £2,285,000 for the 19 days of flat racing this summer at Newbury was announced on Monday by managing director Mark Kershaw.

At the Kingwood House stables of Marcus Tregoning, Kershaw said racecourses had a duty to maintain the quality of racing nationally by offering increased prize money and sponsorships.

The announcement was accompanied by a parade of Tregoning's stable stars, including last year's Derby winner Sir Percy.