Karl Burke will be hoping history can repeat itself as Boiling Point makes his return in the 10-furlong G3 Midnite Winter Derby (2.00pm) at Lingfield Park on Saturday, February 21.
The Middleham trainer landed the 2025 edition at Southwell with Royal Champion, who has subsequently excelled on the world stage with wins in the G2 Bahrain International Trophy and G1 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Like Royal Champion, Boiling Point carries the colours of the late Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum and joined Burke in late 2024 having scored at Listed level for Roger Varian.
The son of Too Darn Hot enjoyed a strong end to his 2025 campaign, going down by a head in York’s G3 Strensall Stakes before defying top weight and a rating of 109 when making all in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.
Jockey Sam James told Sky Sports Racing: “Boiling Point was a good winner at Newmarket last year. He has not run since then but is going well at home and I am very much looking forward to riding him.
“All he did in the Cambridgeshire was stay, having got racing before going into the dip. Lingfield is a sharp track and you need speed while also being able to stay. I think he ticks all the boxes. If he can show what he did at Newmarket, he should not be far away.”
John & Thady Gosden saddle two in-form contenders in Chancellor and Nebras as the Clarehaven outfit bids to win the Midnite Winter Derby for a fifth time since 2019.
Nebras lines up on the back of a short-head success in the Listed Midnite Quebec Stakes over the course and distance on New Year’s Eve, while Chancellor steps up to 10 furlongs following his victory in the Listed BetMGM Tandridge Stakes at Southwell two weeks ago.
Chris Richardson, Managing Director of Cheveley Park Stud, told Sky Sports Racing: “We have always held Chancellor in high regard, but he has been his own worst enemy because, although he showed a huge amount of ability, he was concentrating on other things.
“We were hoping he might build into something more significant but, in order to become a progressive horse, he has had to be gelded. I think that has focused his mind on racing and he is gaining confidence.
“Rab [Havlin] gave him a great ride at Southwell. I was nervous about Tyrrhenian Sea, but Chancellor put it to bed and they pulled well clear. It looks as though the further he goes, the better he goes, so it will be interesting to see if the step up in trip suits him.”
James Fanshawe’s Sky Safari bids to become the first filly or mare to win the Midnite Winter Derby. Successful in the Listed BetMGM Fleur De Lys Stakes at the course in November, the five-year-old lost her perfect all-weather record when going down by a head to Morrophore in last month’s BetMGM Winter Oaks.
Former Gosden inmate Military Academy chased home Royal Champion in the race 12 months ago. Now trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, the five-year-old filled the same position behind Survie in the Midnite Winter Derby Trial at the track last month.
Earlier on the card, Clive Cox’s Diligent Harry concedes weight to some accomplished rivals in the Listed Midnite Hever Sprint (1.25pm) over five furlongs.
Winner of the 2024 renewal at Southwell, the dual Finals Day winner made a successful return as he dead-heated with Completely Random in the Listed Midnite Kachy Stakes at the course earlier this month.
Irish raider Valiant Force, who won the G2 Norfolk Stakes and finished second at the Breeders’ Cup in 2023, travels over for Robson de Aguiar on the back of an impressive conditions race success at Dundalk.
The trainer said: “Valiant Force has arrived at Lingfield in good order. He hacked on the track on Thursday morning and the guys with him are very happy.
“He has trained nicely since his last run and, provided he reproduces that level of performance, I think he is going to run very well. He handles the bend at Dundalk, so I don’t see the track being a problem.
“He will run on Finals Day again as he loves the all-weather surfaces. We tried him in the Mile last year, but we think five or six furlongs are his optimum, so he will go for the Sprint this time.”
Leovanni also boasts Royal Ascot-winning form, having taken the G2 Queen Mary Stakes in 2024. The daughter of Kodi Bear met trouble in running when finishing fourth in the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock Park on her only appearance for Karl Burke last year.
Sam James said: “Leovanni was very good at Ascot. She has loads of ability and has strengthened up a hell of a lot from last year. She is a good-moving filly, so I don’t think the all-weather will be a problem. I presume they will go pretty quick with the likes of Diligent Harry in the race. Hopefully, she can get a good position and give a good account of herself.”
The six runners also include Robert Cowell’s Democracy Dilemma, who won the Listed Beverley Bullet in 2024, and leading South African sprinter Golden Sickle for George Boughey.
