Cesarewitch winner Beylerbeyi is one of the headline acts as Newcastle hosts the first All-Weather Championships Trials Day meeting of the season on Friday, January 16.
The winner of each £45,000 handicap on the card will be eligible for free entry to the corresponding Finals Day race at Newcastle, as well as a £15,000 bonus should they go on to win on Good Friday.
Lingfield Park stages the other All-Weather Championships Trials Day on February 27. Any horse that wins at both Trials Day meetings in the same category and goes on to win at Newcastle on Finals Day will be eligible for a total bonus of £35,000.
Beylerbeyi reverts to 10 furlongs for the Midnite AWC Middle Distance Trial Handicap (2.50pm), having made great strides over further for Ian Williams in the second half of 2025.
The six-year-old climbed 23lb in the handicap as he registered four wins and two placed efforts from seven starts, culminating with a decisive come-from-behind success in the Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket in October.
Williams has two other strong contenders for the race in Night Breeze and Parlando. Night Breeze makes his first appearance since winning at the Shergar Cup in August, while Parlando chases a three-timer following wins at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton.
Williams said: “Beylerbeyi had a decent break after his Newmarket success. As with the beginning of last year, he is a bit of a handful when fresh, so starting him off over a shorter distance is always wise.
“It will be interesting to see how he copes with Newcastle with a view to heading back there in the spring, provided he does not travel abroad. He is not rated highly enough for the Red Sea Turf Handicap on the Saudi Cup card, although there are some options in Australia that we could look at.
“Night Breeze sustained a fracture to his off hind during his win at the Shergar Cup, but that appears to have healed very well and we have nursed him back to fitness. The team at home have done a great job and we would be hoping for a big run.
“Parlando is towards the bottom of the weights, having gone up quite considerably for his last two wins. Ryan Kavanagh is having a great season on the all-weather and will take off a handy 5lb, so he should run another solid race.”
Andrew Balding’s Regal Ulixes and the William Haggas-trained Time Loop are the two unknown quantities in the Midnite AWC Middle Distance Trial Handicap, with both horses making their handicap debuts.
Pocklington meets familiar rivals in the Midnite AWC Sprint Trial Handicap (3.20pm), having gained a deserved success for Geoff Oldroyd in a valuable contest on January 1. Six of those who finished in behind at Southwell reoppose, including runner-up Eminency (Stuart Williams), fourth Ten Pounds (Joey Ramsden) and the unlucky Coul Angel (Mick Appleby).
The six-furlong contest also features potential improver Germanic (Julie Camacho), 2024 Sprint final scorer Fivethousandtoone (Tim Easterby), plus two Finals Day winners from last season in Berkshire Whisper (Andrew Balding) and Heavenly Heather (Tracy Waggott).
David O’Meara’s G3 Sirenia Stakes runner-up Rogue Supremacy takes on six last-time-out winners in the BetMGM AWC 3YO Trial Handicap (3.55pm). His in-form rivals include Dartrey (Ralph Beckett) and Ten Carat Harry (Jamie Osborne), who both arrive on the back of three wins so far this season, plus handicap debutant Monarch’s Gold for Kevin Philippart de Foy.
Storm Star landed the BetMGM AWC Mile Trial Handicap (4.30pm) on this card 12 months ago and returned to win the Mile final on Good Friday. Andrew Balding’s runner takes on another past Mile final winner in Talis Evolvere and G2 victor Witch Hunter, both trained by Richard Hannon.
Blazeon Five goes for a fourth consecutive victory for Alan King in the Midnite AWC Marathon Trial Handicap (2.15pm) over an extended two miles. The opposition includes Michael Bell’s Duke Of Oxford, who won the London Series Stayers Final for a third time last month, and recent Wolverhampton scorer Brasil Power (George Boughey).
Impressive Newbury winner Bela Sonata gets her winter campaign underway for Oliver Cole in the seven-furlong BetMGM AWC Fillies & Mares Trial Handicap (1.40pm). There are two Irish-trained contenders to note, with recent Dundalk scorers Nikki Swango and Indigo Dream lining up for Ado McGuinness and Ross O’Sullivan.
Ian Williams on his other AWC Trials Day runners
Sheradann – Midnite AWC Marathon Trial Handicap: “He was very keen last time at Kempton, having won there the time before. The more I have got to know him, the less convinced I am that he is a dour stayer, so we will have to ride him with restraint. Having said that, when things go his way, he is capable of winning races like this.”
Purest Time – Midnite AWC Sprint Trial Handicap: “He ran well at Southwell last time and sneaks in off a low weight. Joanna Mason got on very well with him when he was second in a big handicap at York in October, so it will be nice to have her back on board. This race has a lot of depth to it but, when things fall right, he is capable of picking up a nice prize.”
One And Gone – BetMGM AWC 3YO Trial Handicap: “We are probably tilting at windmills a little but he has shown some reasonable form on the all-weather. He goes there in good form and should run his race.”
Uniting – BetMGM AWC Mile Trial Handicap: “He is running in some first-time cheekpieces, which will need to eke out some improvement because he does not have the assistance of Ryan Kavanagh’s claim this time. Stepping up to a mile has helped him and he is in here with a fighting chance.”
