Following a scheduled break in the UK at the start of the month, the All-Weather Championships returned with a vengeance last week with a host of notable performances across the country.
Duke Of Oxford looks a strong contender in the Marathon category after comfortably taking the Unibet London Stayers' Series Final at Kempton Park on Wednesday.
The three-year-old, who contested the G3 Chester Vase in the spring, is two from two since stepping to two miles and last week’s victory takes his record on the all-weather to four wins from seven starts.
Trainer Michael Bell said: “Duke Of Oxford has taken last week’s race well. He has been given a 6lb rise, which is probably fair given how smoothly he did it.
“He had a wind operation after Royal Ascot, which has helped him. Then you have other factors such as the tongue strap, step up in trip, and him just generally improving with time.
“We are now looking at Newcastle on January 1 – there is a £45,000 handicap for him there – and Finals Day is something we can think about after that.
“I would say a mark of 90 is workable and it will be interesting to see whether he can defy the rise or not. He would look quite an exciting horse if he can.”
Grey’s Monument triumphed on the same Kempton Park card as he registered a first Listed success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Hyde Stakes, a race trainer Ralph Beckett has won previously with multiple G1 winner Kinross.
Godolphin runner Honest Desire (Charlie Appleby) was also on the scoresheet, with his emphatic performance in the six-furlong nursery resulting in a 9lb rise in the handicap.
Simon & Ed Crisford appear to have another nice filly on their hands following Oh So Grand’s swooping victory in Wednesday’s BetMGM Winter Oaks Trial at Lingfield Park. The training partnership completed the Trial-Winter Oaks double last season with subsequent Listed winner Al Agaila.
Lingfield Park also saw a promising handicap debut from Andrew Balding’s Light Speed, who is now three from three during the All-Weather Championships following novice wins at Newcastle and Wolverhampton.
Fellow lightly raced three-year-olds To Catch A Thief (William Haggas) and Solray (Jane Chapple-Hyam) continued their progress at Newcastle on Saturday. To Catch A Thief comfortably defeated Sir Busker and Virgin Bet November Handicap victor Onesmoothoperator in the opening 10-furlong handicap, while Solray was well on top in a six-furlong handicap later on the card.
It was a good week for All-Weather Champion Trainer Mick Appleby, with Ippotheos, Penzance and Intervention all impressing the handicapper in their respective victories at Wolverhampton, Chelmsford and Lingfield Park.
Appleby now sits on 10 winners for the season as he seeks an eighth trainers’ title, with John & Thady Gosden topping the leaderboard on 19. The father-son combination enjoyed a double at Wolverhampton on Saturday, headed by Vaguely Royal’s success in the 12-furlong handicap.
Rossa Ryan is the new leader at the top of the All-Weather Champion Jockey standings, with the 23-year-old having ridden nine winners since the winter break. He holds a slender lead over Billy Loughnane, with last season’s All-Weather Champion Apprentice set to miss much of the remainder of the month due to suspension.
