The All-Weather
Championships continue with two valuable contests at Kempton Park and Lingfield
Park on Wednesday, December 11 which have both attracted very strong fields.
Kempton Park stages the
richest race of the day, the £70,000 Betdaq - The Sports Betting Exchange
Handicap (6.40pm). Run over 11 furlongs, this race is the final of the London
Middle Distance Series.
A maximum field of 14 is
set to go to post, with the weights headed by Open Eagle (David O'Meara)
on 9st 10lb, who was third in the Betfred November Handicap at Doncaster last
month.
Troopingthecolour and Zamoyski (both
Steve Gollings) as well as Halfsin (Marco Botti), Shavansky (Rod
Millman) and Jazz Master (Luca Cumani) all won qualifying races in the
series on their most recent appearances and a highly-competitive affair looks
guaranteed.
Another horse to have won
a qualifier last time out was I'm Fraam Govan (George Baker), who was
last seen out when successful at Kempton Park on October 9. The five-year-old
races in the colours of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Baker said today:
"This has been the plan for a while and I am very happy with I'm Fraam
Govan.
"You always worry
about a horse in December because it is the end of a long, hard season, but we
gave him a bit of a breather after his last run. He didn't do an awful lot when
he got to the front last time and it was probably closer than it needed to be.
"It's obviously
hugely competitive, but it's a nice pot to be going for at this time of year
and he does seem in very good order, so it would be good to put another trophy
in Sir Alex's cabinet."
Earlier in the day
Lingfield Park stages the six-furlong £45,000 Compare Bookmakers At
Bookmakers.Co.Uk Handicap (2.30pm) for which a field of 12 lines up.
Group One-placed Hoof
It (Mick Easterby) is at the top of the handicap on 9st 9lb and will be
making his debut on the all-weather in the six-furlong contest.
One of the real stars of
the all-weather season so far has been Forest Edge (David Evans) who has
won his last three starts including Class Two events at Wolverhampton on
November 8 and at Lingfield Park on December 4.
Lancelot Du Lac (Dean Ivory) finished a
close third in the Listed Best Odds At Bookmakers.co.uk Golden Rose Stakes at
Lingfield Park on November 16 and followed up in good style when taking a Class
Two handicap at Kempton Park on November 27.
Durack
considering Finals Day for impressive winner Litigant
Seamus Durack is
considering All-Weather Championships Finals Day for Litigant after his
impressive three and a half length success in the 32Red Handicap over just
short of a mile and six furlongs at Wolverhampton on Saturday.
It was the five-year-old's
second start in Britain following a promising second on his first start for two
and a half years in an 11-furlong handicap at Kempton Park on November 21. He
was previously trained in France by Andre Fabre where he won two of his three
starts.
Durack commented: "It
was a good enough performance from Litigant considering it was his second run
back after over two years off the track.
"He was running back
quite quickly and they can run a bit flat second time back after a break. He
probably didn't look to have as much zest as he did the time before.
"I was hoping he
would win because it was a nice run last time and he obviously had a good
record in France, winning twice from three starts. He has got a bit of ability
all right, but we don't know how good he is because we haven't put the gun to
his head at home.
"He will definitely
have a little rest now and then we will weigh up our options in the new year
and see what is left for him on the all-weather. If we give him one more run on
the all-weather, he will be eligible for Good Friday and that is something we
will have to think about. I haven't sat down with the owner yet so plans are up
in the air."
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