Top-weight Virgin Snow heads a full field of 14 for the £100,000 Coral Winter Oaks Fillies' Handicap (3.40pm, 10f) at Lingfield Park on Saturday, January 22, day two of the Winter Million.
Virgin Snow developed into a smart performer for Ed Dunlop in 2020, making the frame in a pair of G3 contests including a second in the G3 Hoppings Stakes at Newcastle.
The daughter of star racemare Snow Fairy returned from over a year off the track in the trial for this race at Southwell in early December, when she was fifth behind Viola, Alba Rose, Lower Street and Timeless Soul, who all reoppose.
Umm Hurair is set to be Harry & Roger Charlton’s first runner as a training partnership. The four-year-old, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, made rapid progress in December with three consecutive handicap victories at Wolverhampton over an extended mile, latterly defeating Serenading and Precisely in clear-cut fashion.
Roger Charlton said: “Umm Hurair takes her racing well and we have been very happy with the way she has been training.
“When we sent her up to Wolverhampton in early December, the plan at that stage was to win a little race and then probably go to stud. She has just improved and improved, and I think winning three in quick succession was a bonus.
“Then a nice valuable race like this comes along and we thought we would give it one more shot. We are going up a furlong and a half from Wolverhampton and we hope that will be no problem.
“The only question mark is that last time she won off a rating of 75 if you include Harry Burns’ claim whereas she runs here in a better race off a stone higher. That is a fair hike to contend with and will certainly be no pushover.”
Irish trainer Gerard O’Leary has a 27 per cent strike rate in Britain over the last five seasons, with four winners from 15 runners. He saddles dual All-Weather winner Newgirlintown.
Simon & Ed Crisford have their string in excellent shape and the stable is represented by Miss Marble, who was an eye-catching winner at Kempton Park on her penultimate start.
Fellow Newmarket trainer George Boughey aims to continue a fine run of form with Pretty Sweet, who gained a deserved win at Kempton Park just before Christmas.
The 14 runners also include Arenas Del Tiempo, a three-time winner on turf last year for Simon Dow during a progressive campaign, Unique Cut and the well-bred Enfranchise.
Earlier on the card, another competitive contest looks assured in the £50,000 Betway Handicap (1.20pm) over 12 furlongs, for which there are 10 runners.
Charlie & Mark Johnston have two leading chances with Living Legend and March Law, while former G1 runner Pivoine lines up for Andrew Balding.
Diderot could put himself in the picture for Finals Day in the MansionBet Proud Partners Of The AWC Handicap (1.55pm) over a mile.
Previously trained by Ger Lyons, the four-year-old reappears after making a sparkling debut for James Ferguson at Chelmsford City last week, when he stormed home to win by four lengths.
