Military Academy aims to continue John & Thady Gosden’s excellent record in the G3 BetUK Winter Derby (3.15pm), highlight of a lucrative card at Southwell on Saturday, February 22.
The father-son partnership was successful with Lord North in 2023, with John Gosden landing the spoils in his own right in 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Military Academy steps up in class after impressing on his all-weather debut at Kempton Park in November, when he won the Listed Floodlit Stakes by three and a quarter lengths.
The son of Fastnet Rock had previously captured novice races at Hamilton and Salisbury prior to finishing second to Burdett Road in a Newmarket Listed race.
Jockey Robert Havlin said: “Military Academy was progressive last year. I rode him on his debut at Hamilton and he showed a great deal of ability to beat The Reverend.
“I am happy with the draw [5] as he is a horse who likes to warm into his race. He is coming here on the back of a good performance in the Floodlit Stakes and, with natural progression, hopefully he can pick up from where he left off.
“He is very laidback at home and is as fit as we can get him. We are using this as a stepping-stone to a race in Bahrain next month and this should leave him spot on. All that being said, we are expecting a big run.
“You have to have a lot of respect for Royal Champion, while the likes of Persica and Champagne Prince should be in the mix on their best form.”
Military Academy has 4lb to find on ratings with Royal Champion, who posted a comfortable victory in the Listed Quebec Stakes on his first outing for Karl Burke.
A three-time winner at Listed level, Royal Champion boasts high-class form having finished second to Nations Pride in the 2023 G1 Canadian International.
Persica drops down in grade for Richard Hannon after finishing eighth in the G1 Champion Stakes, with the four-year-old annexing Ayr’s Listed Doonside Cup on his penultimate start.
Champagne Prince looks to follow up his comfortable victory in last month’s BetUK Winter Derby Trial. His trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam also saddles Claymore, a G3 winner at Royal Ascot in 2022.
Irish raider Alanya makes her first appearance for Natalia Lupini, while course scorer Pleasant Man completes the field for Martin Dunne.
Leading all-weather sprinters clash in the Listed BetUK Hever Sprint (2.40pm) over five furlongs, with last year’s winner Diligent Harry seeking a repeat victory for Clive Cox.
Marshman bids for a second Listed success this season for Karl Burke following the BetUK Kachy Stakes at Lingfield Park, a race in which Diligent Harry finished fourth.
A strong challenge from Ireland includes Adrian Murray’s Valiant Force, winner of the G2 Norfolk Stakes in 2023, and Dundalk G3 scorer Ostraka (Daniel Murphy).
Clarendon House (Robert Cowell), who holds the five-furlong course record at Southwell, and former Meydan G2 victor Equilateral (Charlie Hills) are other contenders to note.
Glen Buck is the headline act in the feature handicap on the card, the Extra Winnings With BetUK Acca Club Handicap (3.50pm) over 12 furlongs.
Roger Varian’s runner made it three wins from four career starts at the track in early January, with runner-up Old Harrovian providing a significant boost to the form at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day.
