Chad Yeomans of Betway previews the Betway sponsored races ahead of the culmination of Season 8 of the All Weather Champs at Lingfield Park on Friday 2nd April.
2:00pm - Betway All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes
A field of 10 have been entered for the Betway All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes. The field is headed by the 110 rated Rainbow Dreamer for Alan King who will be bidding to follow up February’s Kempton Conditions Stakes win. He is a relentless galloper who stays very well, however, he’s yet to run at Lingfield and there would be a question mark as to whether he’d be fully at home around the Surrey courses tight turning track.
Betway ambassador Andrew Balding is dual handed with Nate The Great and Ranch Hand. The former, who was second in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot at a two year old, has plenty of ability, but has seemingly been difficult to get the best out of, however, he is coming to hand after one year with his new trainer and he could be a surprise package in the race.
The latter name Ranch Hand conceded weight and gave a beating to a smart and well-backed horse of Ralph Beckett’s at Chelmsford recently. He is a smart horse on his day but like Rainbow Dreamer, may want more of a galloping track.
Joseph O’Brien has interestingly entered Grandmaster Flash, who is on a hat-trick of wins following two successes at Dundalk. He’s got a little bit to find on official ratings, but his trainer wouldn’t enter him if he didn’t think he could be competitive.
3:10pm - Betway All-Weather Sprint Championships Conditions Stakes
We’ve seen lots of the sprinters this winter and it’s safe to say, there really isn’t a standout, making the final a very competitive looking race.
Venturous, the eight year old has been in fine form, winning two of his last three starts including his most recent start at Wolverhampton, beating all of, Aberama Gold, Summerghand and Fizzy Feet in good style.
Exalted Angel hasn’t been since winning the Betway Kachy Stakes at Lingfield in February, bu the showed a good liking for the course that day and surely won’t be far away.
It would be some training performance from Robyn Brisland if Power Over Me were to win. He’s won six of his seven starts in 2021 and has improved from a rating of 59 to his current mark of 91, which is a phenomenal amount of improvement in such a short space of time.
Another intriguing runner is the Irish entrant Harry’s Bar. Trained by Ado McGuiness, the six year old has been beaten on his last two starts, but it’s worth noting, that when he was previously trained by James Fanshawe, this horse is two from two at Lingfield Park.
4:15pm - Betway Easter Classic All-Weather Middle Distance Championships Conditions Stakes
There are only five entered in the Betway Easter Classic, with the main focus on the first two in the market. Betway ambassador Andrew Balding saddles the ante post favourite Bangkok, who was very impressive in the Betway Winter Derby Trial on his penultimate start over course and distance. He finished down the field on his most recent start in the Riyadh, but this is much calmer waters and retained rider Silvestre De Sousa will be back in the saddle.
Forest Of Dean took full advantage of Bangkok going to Saudi Arabia on his latest start as he ran and won in the Betway Winter Derby, also over course and distance. He had always promised to be a group horse, but a setback meant he missed the 2020 flat season. He’s improved with each run this term and is bidding to give John and Thady Gosden a first winner of this race.
It’s worth noting that Palavecino wasn’t far behind these in the Betway Quebec Stakes and he could upset them all.
