Chancellor bids to follow up some strong recent efforts with a first Listed win in the mile BetMGM Tandridge Stakes (7.30pm) at Southwell on Saturday, February 7.
A dual winner at Doncaster in 2024 for John & Thady Gosden, Chancellor began to deliver on that early promise in the backend of last year following wind surgery and a gelding operation.
The son of Kingman defied a mark of 99 on his comeback at Kempton Park in November and backed that up with a closing neck second to Holloway Boy in the same course’s Listed Hyde Stakes.
His jockey Robert Havlin said: “Chancellor has got back on track since he returned from a break. He is a straightforward individual on a nice upward curve and we think he comes here in good shape.
“The two runs at Kempton were very pleasing; he got up in the final strides over seven furlongs and the second to Holloway Boy stepping up to the mile was a great effort. Holloway Boy is a solid yardstick and we gained on him all the way to the line.
“We think Chancellor could have some untapped potential. People should remember that he was favourite for the Champagne Stakes before he bust the stalls open. He is lightly raced and we hope he can have some nice targets later in the year.”
Tyrrhenian Sea produced a quality performance in the BetMGM Tandridge Stakes at its previous home of Lingfield Park last year, when he defeated subsequent G1 Dubai Turf third Maljoom by almost three lengths.
Roger Varian’s eight-year-old started this winter campaign with a pair of creditable efforts in Listed company, finishing third in the Hyde Stakes and a short-head second to Nebras in Lingfield Park’s 10-furlong Midnite Quebec Stakes.
Fellow all-weather specialist Dear My Friend returns from a year off the track. Trained by Charlie Johnston, the six-year-old has gained his biggest victories to date on artificial surfaces – winning this race in 2024 and the Listed Burradon Stakes on Finals Day in 2023.
Royal Ascot winner Witch Hunter, who captured the G2 Hungerford Stakes in 2023, has secured two notable prizes at Newcastle in recent months for Richard Hannon, most recently taking the Mile trial on AWC Trials Day.
Skylight Brochard is an interesting raider for Chantilly handler Tim Donworth. A four-time winner, the Dutch-bred five-year-old pushed France’s top all-weather performer No Lunch to within a short-head in a conditions race at Cagnes-sur-Mer two weeks ago.
Last season’s Mile final victor Storm Star, who was sixth behind Witch Hunter last time out, and accomplished handicapper Two Tempting complete a competitive lineup for Andrew Balding and Jonathan Portman.
