Hilitany could be set for Group race targets following his power-packed victory in the Listed BetMGM Spring Cup at Lingfield Park.
Trained by George Boughey, the three-year-old impressed with a pair of Windsor novice victories last year and ended the campaign with a respectable seventh in Newmarket’s G1 Middle Park Stakes.
Hilitany started 2026 with three appearances at Meydan’s Dubai Racing Carnival, most notably finishing fourth in the five-furlong G2 Blue Point Sprint.
Stepping up to seven furlongs at Lingfield Park, Hilitany raced in midfield under Billy Loughnane before unleashing a strong run down the centre of the course to win going away. Bella Lyra went down by a length in second, with Finals Day hopeful Ten Carat Harry a head further back in third.
Loughnane said: “It was a nice performance from Hilitany. The team has done a great job with him in Dubai. It was his first time over this trip and, while it was hard work getting him to relax when he came from the breeze-ups, he relaxed super today and finished off well.
“He did not come down the hill all that well, so I think you would see him to better effect on a more conventional track. He is a nice horse with a bright future, provided he continues to do things the right way.
“He was not beaten that far at Newmarket on his final run last year and the experience in Dubai has probably made a man of him. Although he did not run that well on paper, he didn’t disgrace himself and it made him grow up. It was nice to see him get it all together today.”
Elsewhere, 2024 Mile final runner-up Kingdom Come returned from a break to annex a seven-furlong handicap at Kempton Park. The seven-year-old requires one more qualifying run, which could come this weekend in the BetMGM Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton, a race he won two years ago.
The same Kempton Park fixture witnessed a taking performance from Godolphin’s Hidden Force in the “European Road To The Kentucky Derby” Conditions Stakes. Trainer Charlie Appleby has previously won the mile contest with subsequent G1 scorers Notable Speech and Opera Ballo.
Willie Mullins may have a live contender for the Easter Classic after Gaucher delivered another impressive Dundalk victory in a 10-furlong conditions race. A six-length winner in handicap company at the track in December, the six-year-old has been raised a further 5lb to 106.
