Cesarewitch hero Beylerbeyi bids to add another major staying prize to his CV as Ian Williams launches a strong assault on the Midnite All-Weather Easter Plate Marathon Handicap (4.42pm) over an extended two miles.
Kept to middle distances since his Newmarket triumph, Beylerbeyi has posted three eye-catching performances over the winter, including placed efforts at both AWC Trials Day meetings.
Williams also saddles veteran campaigner Enemy (pictured), who has added to his £1m prize money haul with two further victories so far this year, most recently at Lingfield Park’s trials fixture in February.
The 2024 Marathon runner-up Duke Of Oxford looks better than ever, having won his third London Stayers Series Final at Kempton Park and posted an easy victory at Newcastle’s trials meeting in January. Trainer Michael Bell has sent out five winners from his last seven runners.
Andrew Balding’s Berkshire Sundance has won two of his past three starts, although he failed to fire when sent off favourite at the course in January. Dramatic Star meanwhile boasts winning form at the track for William Haggas and was just touched off in the Old Borough Cup in the autumn.
Following a quiet season so far, Prydwen bids to recapture the form that saw him win this race easily for George Scott in 2024 from a 3lb higher mark, while Irish raider Tribal Star aims to improve on last year’s second for Ado McGuinness.
Artisan Dancer heads two contenders for Charlie Johnston, having made a successful return to action at Southwell recently. Stable companion Sax Appeal has found life tougher since his dominant victory at the same course midway through the season.
The James Owen-trained Charging Thunder is 2lb higher than when finishing third in last season’s Northumberland Plate over the course and distance. Harry Charlton’s Tryfan wears a first-time hood, while Barenboim completes the field for Tom Dascombe.
Runners chasing a £15,000 bonus:
Duke Of Oxford
Enemy
The view from connections
Ian Williams, trainer of Beylerbeyi and Enemy, said: “Beylerbeyi is in great order. His performances over inadequate trips this season have been encouraging, while he showed he handles the track fine at the trials meeting in January. I am really looking forward to stepping him back up to his preferred distance. Enemy has won a couple this winter and is still performing at a very good level. He should run another solid race.”
William Haggas, trainer of Dramatic Star, said: “He showed at Kempton at the start of the season that he gets two miles. He had a nice run around there over a shorter trip last time to get him ready for this. We think we have him in very good shape.”
Michael Bell, trainer of Duke Of Oxford, said: “He has had a very good winter, which means he has gone up the handicap a bit, but he deserved to given the performances he put in. His trial win was encouraging because we had always wondered whether he was quite as good at Newcastle. He is a very tall, leggy horse and it could be that he is finally peaking at the age of six. I think he is a major player.”
Andrew Balding, trainer of Berkshire Sundance, said: “I am particularly pleased with him at the moment. He is a tough, progressive horse who stays well. While he has won three races this season, he has disappointed us a couple of times as well, including up at Newcastle in January. That would be a concern.”
Charlie Johnston, trainer of Artisan Dancer and Sax Appeal, said: “Artisan Dancer is proven for a test like this. He had a nice break through January and February before making an impressive return at Southwell three weeks ago. While all his wins have come in a lower grade, he has acquitted himself well in handicaps of this calibre before. I thought the handicapper was pretty harsh on Sax Appeal around Christmas time, when he put him up 5lb for winning an uncompetitive race at Southwell. As is always the case, it has taken more time to come down the handicap than it did to go up. We have reached for the blinkers again, which has worked on him in the past.”
Ado McGuinness, trainer of Tribal Star, said: “I am very happy with him. He had a nice break following the Irish Cesarewitch and then we brought him back for his three qualifying runs, including over an inadequate trip last time. He has got heavier and stronger, while he has run very well over the course and distance twice before. I would expect a big run.”
