Roaring Legend and So Darn Hot were among the winners again as Lingfield Park staged the second All-Weather Championships Trials Day of the season.
Both horses were successful at Newcastle’s equivalent fixture in January and are now in line for a £35,000 bonus if they can follow up on Finals Day.
Roaring Legend showed he is a stayer improving at a rate of knots as he routed the field by five lengths in the BetUK AWC Marathon Trial Handicap over two miles.
The five-year-old is unbeaten in three starts since joining Hugo Palmer, with today’s success under David Probert coming off a mark of 96.
Probert said: “Roaring Legend is really improving. After the last day at Newcastle, he has taken a massive step forward. Hugo has been delighted with him and he is progressing into a nice stayer.
“We have not gone overly quick today and he got into a nice, even rhythm. I was unsure where the Beckett horse [Moon Over Miami] was behind me, so I have gone forward down the hill and he really lengthened well.
“This horse has a big engine and you are not quite sure how quick you are going. He could be a cup horse in time. I think there is a lot of fun to be had with him.”
So Darn Hot produced a taking performance in the BetMGM AWC 3 Year Old Trial Handicap over six furlongs, despite having to race wider than ideal.
In a race featuring nine last-time-out winners, Kevin Philippart de Foy’s runner quickened clear early in the straight and kept on to beat Carbine Harvester by a length and a quarter.
De Foy said: “Finals Day is definitely the plan. We did not expect him to win like that today. We claimed 7lb at Newcastle and he went up 5lb, so he was carrying 12lb more.
“I did not think Lingfield would suit him either because he has been slowly away in his last couple of starts, but he was much sharper today and ended up three wide with no cover.
“He is a Too Darn Hot and they love a good fight. His brother [Without Revenge] was a mile-and-a-quarter horse but, while there is plenty of stamina on his page, So Darn Hot is not short of speed.”
The four other trial winners on the card have earned a tilt at a £15,000 bonus, with The Glen Rovers annexing the BetUK AWC Middle Distance Trial Handicap over 10 furlongs.
A winner of the London Middle Distance Series Final in November, Lucy Wadham’s runner delivered a power-packed finish to overhaul Winter Oaks heroine Charlotte’s Web in the dying strides.
Winning co-owner Conor Ryan said: “I was very impressed with The Glen Rovers. He has been a wonderful horse for us and we have been on a great journey. I am very proud of him.
“He is a dream horse really as we bought him for 10 grand from Godolphin and he has paid that back in spades, with the big win at Kempton and another nice pot today.
“I suspect we will come back here on Good Friday rather than going up to Newcastle but I will speak to Lucy and we will make a plan.”
Michael Bell’s Destructive made it three wins from three starts this season in the BetMGM AWC Mile Trial Handicap, following up a pair of Wolverhampton successes last month.
The lightly raced four-year-old ran three times on dirt in Dubai last winter, most notably finishing fourth in the Listed Al Bastakiya.
Winning jockey Callum Shepherd said: “I am really pleased with Destructive. He was out in Dubai last winter and credit to everyone for the patience they’ve shown as he missed most of the summer here. Now he feels great, having won three on the spin.
“We landed in midfield and he was more than happy there. He took a bit of time to navigate the final bend – he was not brilliant around it – but once he levelled up, he was very strong. He is probably value for a bit better than that.
“He is a nice horse going forward who should stay 10 furlongs. I think a nice galloping track like Newcastle on Finals Day will suit him better. He is super straightforward, relaxes and picks up when you need him.”
The Jack Channon-trained Ferrous began his 2025 campaign with an authoritative display in the BetUK AWC Sprint Trial Handicap over six furlongs.
Making his first appearance since early October, the five-year-old came with a well-timed challenge under Tom Marquand to see off Silky Wilkie by a length and a quarter.
Marquand said: “This was his first go around here, and it kind of felt like that riding him, as I had a bit of trouble getting him around the bend. Jack had him in perfect nick today, freshness wise, and he has done it well in a smart little race.”
Quandary backed up some good recent efforts to take the seven-furlong BetMGM AWC Fillies And Mares Trial Handicap for Ed Bethell and Harry Davies.
Davies said: “I always think Lingfield suits clever horses. Quandary travelled with a little bit of zest and came into the race really well. Once I asked her, she picked up slightly better than I expected. I probably hit the front too soon but she got the job done.
“On paper, it looked like it would be pretty busy up front. The idea was to drop her in and come with one run down the outside. Everything went perfectly.”
