Roaring Legend bids to crown a perfect season with a fourth win on the bounce in the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap (4.42pm) over two miles.
The five-year-old has been a revelation since joining Hugo Palmer, following up a comeback win at Wolverhampton with AWC Trials Day victories at Newcastle and Lingfield Park, during which time his rating climbed 22lb to 104.
Several other contenders are lining up on the back of career-best performances, including James Ferguson’s Wonder Legend, who comfortably defeated Plage De Havre (Andrew Balding) at Wolverhampton last month.
Last year’s runner-up Duke Of Oxford has improved again this winter for Michael Bell, latterly winning the London Stayers' Series Final for a second time.
Heathen has won twice this season for David O’Meara and boasts a good record fresh, having won four of his last five starts when returning from a break of 50 days or more.
Ex-Godolphin runner Tribal Star tackles two miles for the first time for Ado McGuinness, with the son of Sea The Stars going down narrowly over an extended 10 furlongs at Dundalk last time out.
Midnight Lion seeks a sixth course success this season for Jim Goldie, following a string of victories over 10 furlongs. Stable-mate Humble Spark also takes a hike in distance after three wins over middle distances this term.
The Alan King-trained Tritonic is one of two dual-purpose performers in the lineup alongside Circuit Breaker for Jonjo & AJ O’Neill.
King Chaos (Rebecca Menzies), Wonder (James Fanshawe), Weddell Sea (Mike Sowersby) and Chillhi (Brian Ellison) all have significant improvement to find from out of the handicap.
The view from connections
Hugo Palmer, trainer of Roaring Legend, said: “I am very happy with him. This is plan B in some respects as we hoped to go to Dubai but he was not invited. He likes the track and, fingers crossed, this might be his last start in a handicap until the Melbourne Cup!”
James Ferguson, trainer of Wonder Legend, said: “He goes into this on the back of a lovely win at Wolverhampton. From a fitness point of view, he is bang there and seems to be really enjoying his work. Stepping back up to two miles should be no issue as he has run well over the trip before. He needs a career best, but I think he is capable of producing that.”
Andrew Balding, trainer of Plage De Havre, said: “He is a progressive horse who is stepping up in trip a couple of furlongs but, to me, he shapes like he should stay. It was a muddling race last time, which didn’t suit him. I think he can improve on that.”
Michael Bell, trainer of Duke Of Oxford, said: “All has gone smoothly since he won the big staying race at Kempton. He is on a career-high mark [96] and has to improve again, but he is a big scopey horse who always looked like he would progress with time. We are very happy with him.”
Chris Dixon of The Horse Watchers, who own Heathen, said: “He had the option of Chelmsford but we decided to chase the bigger money here. He is a horse who needs to be fresh and, when he is fresh, he is a decent enough animal. He could be quite interesting as he might still be well handicapped. It is just a question of whether two miles stretches him.”
Tom Fanshawe, assistant trainer of Wonder, said: “We are delighted to get Hollie Doyle booked for Wonder. He has been running well all winter and is the type of horse who could run a sneaky race, as he only does what he has to. He will be a couple of pounds out the weights, but I think it is well worth him taking his chance in the race.”
Ado McGuinness, trainer of Tribal Star, said: “He has not run over the distance before but he is certainly bred for it. There was no suitable race at home for his prep, which is why I dropped him back to a mile and a quarter, and he was only just beaten. He is a classy type of horse and I think he is going to make into a really nice stayer, as he will only be half-speeding over this trip. I think all he does is gallop.”
Alan King, trainer of Tritonic, said: “He has been a grand old horse, so we thought we would roll the dice and give it a crack. He is obviously not getting any better at his age, but the run at Kempton last time will have sharpened him up and hopefully the cheekpieces will as well.”
