Irish raider Elegant Man features among a host of leading lights set to clash on Finals Day, as the All-Weather Championships culminate with Newcastle’s Good Friday highlight on March 29.
BetUK Easter Classic contender Elegant Man has made an exciting start to his career with two wins from three starts for Adrian Murray, finishing second behind multiple G1 scorer Rebel’s Romance on his other appearance in Kempton Park’s Listed Floodlit Stakes.
The Amo Racing-owned four-year-old has produced two impressive performances at Dundalk, latterly taking a conditions race by three and a half lengths on January 26.
Murray said: “The plan is for Elegant Man to travel across for the Easter Classic. We are very happy with his preparation and I think he has stepped forward again from the last day.
“I think he is a very good horse. There is plenty more to come from him and he should be up to running in Group Three and Group Two races. He is exciting.
“The track at Newcastle should be no bother to him, as he has been strong at the finish in all his races, and we are expecting a big run.
“We also have Manhattan Dreamer entered in a couple of races at Newcastle but we have not made a plan for her. We will make a decision in the next couple of days.”
A strong entry of 22 for the 10-furlong BetUK Easter Classic also includes BetMGM Winter Oaks heroine Oh So Grand (Simon & Ed Crisford) and Hooking (Philippe Decouz), a multiple Listed winner on the all-weather in France.
Penzance (Michael Appleby), who is also entered in the BetUK Easter Classic, is one of three entries on the card in with a chance of a £75,000 bonus following victories at both AWC Trials Day fixtures.
The 113-rated Dear My Friend, who is chasing a £75,000 bonus of his own after claiming both AWC Trials Day races for Charlie Johnston, tops 18 entries for the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap.
Dual G3 winner Fast Raaj is a high-class entry from France, with his trainer Yann Barberot having been successful in the 2022 Sprint with Bouttemont.
Clive Cox’s Kingdom Come and Irish challenger Final Voyage (Johnny Murtagh) could meet again after dominating the finish of the BetMGM Lincoln Trial earlier this month.
AWC Trials Day victors Albasheer (Archie Watson) and Chipstead (Roger Teal) feature among 25 entries for the BetUK All-Weather Championships Sprint Handicap over six furlongs.
Cover Up is unbeaten in three starts this winter for John & Thady Gosden, while Gordon Elliott could send over Coachello, who scored over the course and distance in December.
The 2021 victor Summerghand is one of two entries for David O’Meara alongside Stewards’ Cup hero Aberama Gold. Willem Twee, winner of the Listed BetUK Golden Rose Stakes earlier in the season for James Fanshawe, adds further quality.
Wolverhampton Listed scorer Nine Tenths tops 10 entries for the Fillies’ & Mares’ All-Weather Championships Handicap over seven furlongs, a race her trainer William Haggas has won with Queen Aminatu and Diagnostic.
Shades Of Summer (Jane Chapple-Hyam), who is chasing a £75,000 bonus following a pair of AWC Trials Day wins, and last year’s runner-up Aramis Grey (Rae Guest) are also engaged.
Lingfield Park AWC Trials Day scorer Spartan Army and 2023 winner Rainbow Dreamer give Alan King a strong hand in the two-mile BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap.
The 19 entries also feature Ralph Beckett’s multiple G3 winner Max Vega, plus Duke Of Oxford (Michael Bell) and Citizen General (Ed Dunlop), who have both captured class two prizes at Kempton Park this season.
Irish representation is provided by the Denis Hogan-trained Tyson Fury, who scored impressively on his first start over two miles at Dundalk last time out.
AWC Trials Day winners Blue Prince (David Evans) and Photosynthesis head 14 entries in the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap over six furlongs, with the latter set to have his first start for Peter Chapple-Hyam.
There are five last-time-out-winners in contention, including Juddmonte runner Fire Demon for Andrew Balding and Andrew Slattery’s eye-catching Dundalk victor Tarsus.
G3 scorer Orne (John & Thady Gosden) and the Kevin Ryan-trained Room Service could test their Classic aspirations in the Listed BetMGM Burradon Stakes. Charlie Appleby’s dual winner Silent Age also figures among 10 entries.
Lingfield Park stages the All-Weather Championships Vase fixture on Good Friday, with the seven-race programme attracting 177 entries from Britain and Ireland.
