ALHAARTH should go some way to answering the winter's most burning question at Newmarket today.

The winter favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby will show us in the Craven Stakes whether he is likely to tower over his contemporaries this season as he did last.

There is no doubt that Hamdan Al Maktoum's colt was the best two year old in Europe in 1995. He comfortably put up the best performance of the year in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last October, brushing aside dual Group One winner Danehill Dancer with an ease bordering on the contemptuous.

Though he was not always so impressive in his unbeaten five race campaign notably when forced to make the running in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster he always left the strong impression he had plenty in reserve at the finish.

Reports from Dick Hern's stable of the colt's recent work have been entirely positive and there is no reason to doubt his wellbeing today. Alhaarth should confirm his superiority en route to the Class Tawkil can strengthen Sheikh Hamdan's hand for the Derby by taking the preceding Feilden Stakes.

The colt was less highly tried than many of his owner's juveniles last year when Barry Hills confined him to two outings in maidens.

But he created a very favourable impression all the same, running second to the highly regarded Mark of Esteem at Goodwood prior to scoring with a good deal to spare at Chester.

Tawkil is the type to improve significantly this season and is well worth this chance in Listed company.