Roi De France attempts to break John & Thady Gosden’s Finals Day hoodoo in a red-hot edition of the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap (3.00pm).
The Clarehaven outfit has sent out 14 runners across the six championship finals without success, including seven beaten favourites or joint favourites.
Runner-up in the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park, Roi De France finished third in a seven-furlong handicap at the course last month, a race in which Popmaster (Ed Walker) was an eye-catching fourth.
Six contenders arrive on the back of a win, including AWC Trials Day scorers Destructive and Storm Star, who are chasing £15,000 bonuses for Michael Bell and Andrew Balding.
Clive Cox has a strong hand, with 2024 runner-up Kingdom Come joined by Cracking Gold, who returned from wind surgery to score at Southwell on his latest start.
Roger Varian’s Fantastic Fox made the frame last year from 2lb higher in the handicap, while Symbol Of Light (Julie Camacho) is up to a career-high rating of 105 following his victory in the BetMGM Lincoln Trial.
Adrian Murray’s G2 winner Valiant Force heads three Irish raiders as he drops into handicap company for the first time. He is joined by Dundalk scorer Exquisite Acclaim (Ado McGuinness) and Johnny Murtagh’s Final Voyage, who finished ninth last year.
Apiarist boasts a notable piece of form for Kevin Ryan, with the four-year-old having beaten subsequent Listed winner Royal Zabeel on his most recent all-weather start at Southwell.
Multiple course scorers Brewing and Nikovo line up for William Haggas and Michael Herrington.
The view from connections
John Gosden, co-trainer of Roi De France, said: “We dropped him back to seven furlongs for his third qualifying run, which was a bit short, but he still ran a nice race. Going back up to a mile will suit and we have been very happy with his preparation. We are hoping for a big run.”
Michael Bell, trainer of Destructive, said: “He has had a very good preparation with three wins on the bounce. He looks really well and won decisively last time. This will be his biggest test to date but, judged on what he has been doing, it suggests that he will be involved at the finish.”
Andrew Balding, trainer of Storm Star, said: “We have been very happy with his prep. It was always the plan to wait for this after he won at the trials meeting. The track suits him well and I think he is equipped to run a very good race.”
Clive Cox, trainer of Kingdom Come and Cracking Gold, said: “Kingdom Come was a very respectable second in the race last year. He loves the track and the surface, which is always a positive. He has had a nice break since the Lincoln Trial and does prefer running fresh. Cracking Gold pleased us in his win at Southwell last time, which was his first run back after wind surgery. We have always liked him and very much hope that he can continue going forwards now he has another win under his belt.”
Chris Dixon of The Horse Watchers, who own Symbol Of Light, said: “He has a very good record on the all-weather and, having won two decent races this winter, comes here up the weights. He might be getting towards the correct handicap mark now, but he has form at the track and the team involved are very happy with him. He will run well, it is just a question of whether there is something better handicapped.”
Adrian Murray, trainer of Valiant Force, said: “Valiant Force is very well. We are aiming to campaign him over seven furlongs and a mile this year. I think he has the potential to win a Group One, so he would want to be competitive off a mark of 108, otherwise he is not as good as we think he is.”
Alastair Donald of King Power Racing, who own Fantastic Fox, said: “He has performed well on all three of his all-weather starts this season. The Lincoln back on the turf was a non-event for him and he finished on the bridle. He loves a strong gallop to aim at and, if the race sets up for him, he should have a nice each-way chance.”
Adam Ryan, assistant trainer of Apiarist, said: “The form of his Southwell win looks strong and, to be fair to him, I thought he ran very well in the Lincoln despite getting stuck in the ground a bit. If he reproduces the best of his all-weather form, he should have a big shout.”
William Haggas, trainer of Brewing, said: “He is fine. We have put blinkers on and it is the first time he has tackled this distance for a couple of years. We will see how we go, but it is a nice pot to go for.”
Johnny Murtagh, trainer of Final Voyage, said: “Final Voyage had experience of the track last year. He has been running in England quite a bit this season because he goes well on the all-weather. He has it all to do from a handicapping perspective, but he is entitled to take his chance.”
Ado McGuinness, trainer of Exquisite Acclaim, said: “The money on offer for a horse like him is very good. He is a real all-weather specialist and has had a good winter. Whether Newcastle will suit him, I am not sure. I would prefer to run him around a bend, but beggars can’t be choosers and he deserves his place in the lineup.”
Michael Herrington, trainer of Nikovo, said: “He has gone well at Newcastle this winter, winning over seven furlongs and a mile. He has been unlucky in one or two of his other races, including at the trials meeting behind Storm Star. This looks competitive again but hopefully he can go well.”
