Usually in May I am still casting an enviously nostalgic eye backwards to Aintree and Cheltenham, reluctant yet to pack away my stouter shoes and rainproof Barbour. This year it is different: I have rarely looked forward more to the Flat.

It all began with two glorious races for the Guineas. Rock-star wrinklies make farewell tours an annual event, but this really is to be Frankie Dettori’s last year in the saddle and in this year’s 2000 his victory on Chaldean was a perfect reminder of his skills. Andrew Balding, scoring his second training success in the race in four years with the first horse sent to him by Juddmonte, was characteristically happy to deflect the glory Frankie’s way, saying: ‘What a brilliant ride. Ever since I’ve been involved in the sport Frankie’s been an omnipresent superstar and what a fitting way to end his last 2000 Guineas.’ Go racing this year and catch him while you still can.

Then, in the fillies’ equivalent, the 1000 Guineas, we had one of those brilliant mano-a-mano duels that sear themselves on to your eyeballs. The favourite, Dermot Weld’s Tahiyra, and Saeed bin Suroor’s little Mawj, ridden by Oisin Murphy, hit the front two furlongs out as two packs merged. Going seven lengths clear of the rest, they tussled every stride to the line with Murphy winning out by half a length. I’d back Tahiyra to win next time because Weld said she was two weeks behind, but it was the perfect redemption for the former champion jockey resuming this season after a 14-month ban for Covid misdemeanours and failed alcohol tests. We should see one of the finest battles in years for the jockeys’ championship as a fit-again Oisin attempts to wrest the crown back from William Buick. As well as being supreme artists in the saddle, both are highly intelligent men who know the form book and the breeders’ catalogues inside out.

It is in many ways a season of renewal: in the training ranks Charlie Johnston is going well in succession to his father Mark, as is Jack Channon in taking on the mantle from father Mick. Ed Bethell, too, is building an effective operation following father James. Alongside the established names we can expect further progress this season from the emerging new wave Newmarket forces of George Boughey, George Scott and James Ferguson, three internationally-minded and media-savvy younger handlers. New names don’t make it any easier finding a summer Twelve to Follow for Spectator readers after our success with the dozen winter jumpers but at least Azure Blue (at 7-2) and Rajinsky (at 16-1) of last season’s Twelve have struck already.

Let’s start in coronation month with a royal prospect. King Charles’s three-year-old Slipofthepen, trained by the Gosdens, wasn’t ready for the Guineas but has won two on the all-weather and has Classic potential. It would be renewal indeed if King Charles could win with one bred by his mother. James Ferguson looks to have a potential future star with Canberra Legend, a winner of the Feilden Stakes over nine furlongs. I also like the look of Finn’s Charm, trained by Charlie Johnston and owned by Dr Jim Walker. Finn’s Charm won the Royal Mile handicap at Musselburgh in April.

Some thought Ismail Mohammed over-optimistic running Once More For Luck as a 250-1 shot in the Middle Park Stakes last October, but it didn’t look so silly when he came out and won at 25-1 over six furlongs at Newmarket in April. Second and third that day have won since. We will need luck, though, with my next selection. Pearle d’Or was 18th of 18 on his last racecourse appearance at Leopardstown for Dermot Weld, but I include him because he has since been acquired by David O’Meara who has a remarkable record with other people’s cast-offs and who told the Racing Post he looks well handicapped. The consistent Charlie Hills is in spectacular form this season and certainly knows how to train fast horses. I’m including his Raabah, run twice on the all-weather to prepare him for big sprint fields, and will throw in too his Cicero’s Gift, an impressive winner of a one-mile conditions stakes at Goodwood. Ed Bethell’s Yorkshire should win a sprint or two as should Roger Varian’s Saint Lawrence. William Haggas as always has strength in depth and Tom Marquand rushed back after an injury to ride his Amleto to a comfortable ten-furlong victory at Chester.

One of the phenomena of last season was Lambourn’s Owen Burrows who in his first season as a public trainer sent out 21 winners from just 67 runs. His Alflaila looks good for middle-distance races but I will plump instead for Tarjeeh who won over seven furlongs in his second outing at Newbury last July. Veteran trainer Sir Michael Stoute is on a handy strike rate so far this season and his Passenger earns inclusion too. When ITV’s Matt Chapman noted that Passenger had made a noise in the paddock, his trainer retorted drily: ‘So do you.’