The terrific 76 declared runners are revealed for the fifth £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, March 30. Master The World (David Elsworth/Sean Levey) and Mr Owen (David Simcock/Oisin Murphy), who fought out an eventful finish to G3 Betway Winter Derby over course and distance last month, feature among the 10 runners for the £200,000 Betway Easter Classic (4.40pm, 10 runners) over 10 furlongs on Polytrack Master Of The World was awarded the Betway Winter Derby in the stewards' room after Mr Owen, who was first past the post by a head, veered right and impeded him close home. Master Of The World is bidding to become the fourth horse to complete the Betway Winter Derby-Betway Easter Classic double in as many years. Betway make Master Of The World the 100/30 favourite, with Mr Owen next in the betting at 7/2. The fine line-up includes Utmost (John Gosden/Rab Havlin, 5/1 with Betway) and Victory Bond (William Haggas/James Doyle, 4/1), who were first and second over course and distance in the Listed Betway Winter Derby Trial on February 3. Newmarket trainer Jeremy Noseda captured the first running of the Betway Easter Classic in 2014 with Grandeur and is represented by the Susan Roy-owned Abe Lincoln (10/1), who has a new rider in Paul Hanagan. Abe Lincoln, who wears blinkers for the first time on Good Friday and finished a short-head second of 28 in the 2016 Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, captured a handicap over the Betway Easter Classic course and distance on February 24 and last time out ran on strongly to finish a half-length third in a slightly shorter handicap on Tapeta at Wolverhampton on March 17. Noseda said today about the lightly-raced five-year-old Discreet Cat horse: "Abe Lincoln is in great order. "He is a course and distance winner, and we are going to roll the dice and give it a go. "Who knows about the draw [in stall 10] as you won't know whether or not it will count until you see the pace of the race. It is all about pace. "If the go slow, it could be a problem, but if they go quick, it won't be a problem. It is one of those things I can't control - let's see what happens." Battle Of Marathon (John Ryan/Adam Kirby, 20/1) has mixed it with the favourites on his last two starts, taking third in both in the Listed Betway Winter Derby Trial and G3 Betway Winter Derby. Others with course and distance form are the last two winners of the Listed Betway Quebec Stakes in December, Petite Jack (Archie Watson/Hollie Doyle, 12/1) and Battalion (Jamie Osborne/Dougie Costello, 25/1). The highly-regarded Khalid Abdullah-owned Star Archer (Hugo Palmer/Josephine Gordon, 10/1) and sunbets.co.uk Lincoln Trial Handicap second Pactolus (Stuart Williams/Daniel Muscutt, 20/1) complete the 10 runners. 2.00pm £150,000 Betway All-Weather Marathon Championships, 1m 7f 169y, nine runners Prolific All-Weather performer Watersmeet (Mark Johnston/Joe Fanning, 5/2 with Betway) bids to go one better in the Betway All-Weather Marathon Championships, having chased home Winning Story 12 months ago. His eight rivals include G1 runner-up Red Verdon (Ed Dunlop/James Doyle, 3/1), promising mare Mountain Bell (Ralph Beckett/Oisin Murphy, 4/1), who defeated Watersmeet in a Fast-Track Qualifier at Newcastle in December, and French raider Funny Kid (Christophe Ferland/Maxime Guyon, 9/2). 2.30pm £150,000 32Red Fillies' And Mares' All-Weather Championships, 7f, 13 runners Favourite Diagnostic (William Haggas/James Doyle, 4/1 with 32Red), who carries the famous colours of Cheveley Park Stud, is one of 13 runners in the 32Red Fillies' And Mares' All-Weather Championships. Fast-Track Qualifier winners Soul Silver (David Simcock/Oisin Murphy, 5/1), Summer Icon (Mick Channon/Charles Bishop, 11/2), and Nivvo (Tracey Collin IRE/Ronan Whelan, 50/1) also run, along with recent course scorer Zest (James Fanshawe/Daniel Muscutt, 9/2). 3.05pm £150,000 Betway All-Weather Sprint Championships, 6f, nine runners Defending champion Kimberella (Paul Hanagan, 7/2 with Betway) faces eight rivals in a quality renewal of Betway All-Weather Sprint Championships and his trainer Richard Fahey is going for a fourth success in the race, having also landed the spoils with Alben Star in 2014 and 2016. The opposition, all of whom are rated between 103 and 112, are headed by 9/4 favourite Kachy (Tom Dacombe/Richard Kingscote), who repelled Kimberella by a short-head in the Listed Betway Cleves Stakes over course and distance on February 3. Gifted Master (Hugo Palmer/James Doyle, 4/1) is top-rated following his dominant display in the Listed Golden Rose Stakes over course and distance in November. Further spice is added by two-time Listed scorer Gracious John (David Evans/Fran Berry, 8/1), French challenger City Light (Stephane Wattel/Theo Bachelot, 16/1) and Intisaab (David O'Meara/Daniel Tudhope, 8/1). 3.40pm £150,000 32Red Three-Year-Old All-Weather Championships, 6f, 10 runners Corinthia Knight (Archie Watson/Oisin Murphy), the 6/4 favourite with the sponsor, is chasing a four-timer in the 32Red Three-Year-Old All-Weather Championships. He has captured Fast-Track Qualifiers at Kempton Park and Newcastle as well as a Listed race in France. Never Back Down (Hugo Palmer/Josephine Gordon, 8/1) had Corinthia Knight in behind when landing a Fast-Track Qualifier at Wolverhampton in December and has not raced since. Other leading contenders include Rock On Baileys (Chris Dwyer/Lewis Edmunds, 6/1), who has won his last five starts on the All-Weather, and lightly-raced Wolverhampton winner Breathless Times (Roger Charlton/Adam McNamara, 3/1). 4.10pm £150,000 Sunbets All-Weather Mile Championships, 1m, 11 runners Hot favourite Second Thought (William Haggas/James Doyle, 6/4 with Sun Bets) has the chance to become the first horse to win two different races on All-Weather Championships Finals Day. He is unbeaten in six stars on the All-Weather and captured the 32Red Three-Year-Old All-Weather Championships on Good Friday 12 months ago. The 11-strong field also includes Irish raider Captain Joy (Tracey Collins IRE/Ronan Whelan, 14/1), successful in this race in 2016, and Arcanada (Tom Dascombe/Richard Kingscote, 11/4), who is unbeaten in three starts this winter. Goring (Eve Johnson-Houghton/Charles Bishop, 9/2) is in the form of his life after four successive handicap wins over course and distance. French-trained contenders King Malpic (Thierry Lemer/Olivier Peslier, 16/1) and Lucky Team (Jeremy Boisnard/Theo Bachelot, 25/1) also line up. A maximum field of 14 go for success in the opening race of the day, the £50,000 Sunbets All-Weather Championships Apprentice Handicap (1.30pm) over seven furlongs.
Menu
