Marco Botti has high hopes for Prince Of India ahead of his return in the seven-furlong Listed BetMGM Lady Wulfruna Stakes (3.15pm) at Wolverhampton on Saturday, March 7.
The son of Wootton Bassett shed his maiden tag at the course last March and subsequently climbed the handicap ranks with three wins and two seconds, a run that included authoritative victories at Newmarket’s July Festival and the Shergar Cup at Ascot.
Prince Of India stepped up in class afterwards, finishing third in the Listed Garrowby Stakes at York before losing all chance when badly hampered in the G3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot in October.
Botti said: “Prince Of India’s latest run at Ascot was a bit of a disaster as he almost got brought down, but he had progressed nicely through the season until then and we felt he would have at least been in the frame.
“He has developed very well physically during the winter. We have had this race in mind for a while given he has won on the all-weather before and it should give us a good idea of which direction to go in the first part of the turf season.
“While he has won over seven furlongs, we think a stiff six furlongs is going to prove his optimum. I would like to think that we can target some nice Group races. Hopefully, Saturday will be a good stepping stone towards that.”
Cool Hoof Luke looks to build on his encouraging comeback third in the Listed Midnite Kachy Stakes. Trained by Andrew Balding, the four-year-old had been sidelined for 526 days following his win over a field that included Shadow Of Light, Big Mojo and Camille Pissarro in the 2024 G2 Gimcrack Stakes.
Jack Channon’s Ferrous and the Karl Burke-trained Marshman were unplaced in the Listed Midnite Kachy Stakes, with the duo reopposing as they seek to qualify for next month’s Sprint final at Newcastle.
G2 scorer Witch Hunter bids to go one place better than last year, when he went down by three-quarters of a length to Royal Zabeel. Richard Hannon’s stalwart gained another notable win at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day in January.
Heathcliff makes his Stakes race debut for James Fanshawe following a comfortable handicap success at Lingfield Park. Palmar Bay lines up for Ralph Beckett after taking fourth in the Listed Prix Luthier, while Thunder Roar completes the field for Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood.
Easter Classic hopeful Regal Ulixes heads several contenders having their third qualifying run for Finals Day in the BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap (2.42pm). Andrew Balding’s four-year-old drops back to an extended mile after impressing at Lingfield Park’s AWC Trials Day last week.
The Clive Cox-trained Kingdom Come, who won this race in 2024 before finishing second in the Mile final, lines up following a recent success at Kempton Park. William Haggas’ First Principle and Regal Ulixes’ stablemate The Lost King also aim to confirm their Finals Day places.
Nine of the 12 runners have an entry for Doncaster’s William Hill Lincoln later this month, including unexposed four-year-old La Botte. Harry Eustace’s runner has been off the track since going down by a neck to Arabian Story in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot.
Wolverhampton creates history on Saturday as it stages the first dual horse and greyhound racing fixture in the UK. The greyhound action follows the horse racing, with the first race due off at 6.20pm.
