Alan King bids to go back-to-back in the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap, with the Wiltshire trainer represented by market leader Spartan Army and last year’s winner Rainbow Dreamer, who is set to run his final race.
Spartan Army is in with a chance of a £35,000 bonus after defeating Prydwen (George Scott) and Vaguely Royal (John & Thady Gosden) in the trial at Lingfield Park on March 1, his third success from as many starts this season.
Multiple G3 winner Max Vega looks to defy a rating of 108 for Ralph Beckett after two good efforts over a mile and a half, most recently scoring at Wolverhampton in February.
At the other end of the handicap, Palace Boy (Ralph Smith) receives a 7lb pull with Spartan Army from a Southwell handicap in February, when the duo were split by a length and a quarter.
The Hughie Morrison-trained Kyle Of Lochalsh makes his first appearance of 2024, having ended last year with two comfortable handicap victories over 14 furlongs at Chelmsford.
Duke Of Oxford (Michael Bell) and Citizen General (Ed Dunlop) finished first and fourth in a valuable series final at Kempton Park in November, with Citizen General boosting the form in impressive fashion at the same track last time out.
Tyson Fury flies the flag for Ireland and Denis Hogan after proving his stamina for two miles with a wide-margin victory at Dundalk last month.
Howth lines up for Mick Appleby after a recent victory at Wolverhampton. Duty Of Care, who was fifth behind Spartan Army at Lingfield Park, and multiple course winner Sir Chauvelin also run for Jamie Osborne and Jim Goldie.
The view from connections
Alan King, trainer of Spartan Army and Rainbow Dreamer, said: “Spartan Army has come out of Lingfield fine. That was his third run in quick succession, so we gave him a bit of a break, and he has come back in very good form. We had a little issue with him during the winter, but we put that right and he has come forward nicely since then. Win, lose or draw, this will be Rainbow Dreamer’s final race. He is getting on a wee bit now, but he has been a legend for us and hopefully can give another good account of himself.”
Ralph Beckett, trainer of Max Vega, said: “Max Vega has trained well since his win at Wolverhampton and goes there in good shape. The step up in trip is an unknown, but I think he will stay that far on the Tapeta. We are looking forward to it.”
Ralph Smith, trainer of Palace Boy, said: “We planned to get him to this race for quite some time and thankfully it has all gone well. He is at the right end of the handicap and is better off at the weights with Spartan Army from Southwell, when the slow pace did not suit. I think we can get closer to Mr King’s horse provided there is some pace in the race.”
Peter Shoemark, racing manager for John & Thady Gosden, said: “We tried Vaguely Royal over two miles last time and he seemed to get it well enough, although a strongly run two miles at a galloping track like Newcastle might stretch him. Having said that, they were a long way clear of the fourth at Lingfield and, given the money on offer, we think that entitles him to take his chance.”
George Scott, trainer of Prydwen, said: “That was a career-best from him at Lingfield and he came out of it in very good order. The distance is not a problem, although I am not convinced that Newcastle suits him as well as tighter tracks like Lingfield. That being said, this has been the plan for a while and we’ll see how we go.”
Ed Dunlop, trainer of Citizen General, said: “All has been good with him since Kempton, no hiccups, and we always planned to come straight here. I think since we stepped him up in trip, he has done very little wrong. This is quite rightly a very competitive race, given the money on offer, but he deserves his place in the field.”
Michael Bell, trainer of Duke Of Oxford, said: “We always planned to give him a break after his run in the trial, as he had a busy time of it up until then. I am not convinced Newcastle is his track, although he was by no means disgraced on New Year’s Day. Kempton seems to suit him well and Tyler Heard got a great tune out of him in the big handicap there in November. He should run very well.”
Hughie Morrison, trainer of Kyle Of Lochalsh, said: “This race was not really the plan until about a month ago. Kyle Of Lochalsh had a break for six weeks, but my assistant was working away with him and said he seemed in good form. I forgot that there is a four-year-old allowance, which means we are out of the weights slightly, but I think it is immaterial at this level. It is a big step up in class and it will be interesting to see how he goes. We think he will stay.”
Denis Hogan, trainer of Tyson Fury, said: “Tyson Fury is in great nick. Our apprentice Sean Bowen claims 5lb, which will be a help from a mark of 104. Tyson Fury likes the all-weather and the prize money at Newcastle is so good, we feel obliged to have a go, especially now he has proven himself over the trip. He likes to drop in and Newcastle tends to favour that type of running style.”
Mick Appleby, trainer of Howth, said: “We think Howth will stay as he settles well enough, although you never really know until you try. He should give a good account provided he gets the trip.”
