Sommelier gets his All-Weather Championships campaign underway in the five-furlong Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap at Newcastle on Friday.
Marco Botti’s three-year-old posted wide margin victories at Chelmsford and Kempton Park last season before an agonising second at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day, when he was caught close home by Blue Prince.
Blue Prince and Sommelier fight out the finish at Newcastle (Pic – Grossick Racing Photography)
Having finished ninth behind Fire Demon on Finals Day, Sommelier bounced back with a good second to Big Evs in the Listed Westow Stakes at York.
The son of Due Diligence has been off the track since finishing down the field in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot.
Botti said: “We have rerouted Sommelier to Newcastle after Southwell was abandoned on Tuesday. He has been training well and we are looking forward to seeing him back in action.
“It was a good run behind Big Evs in the Listed race at York. Things did not happen for him at Royal Ascot and he came back a bit sore, which is why we decided to give him a break with the All-Weather Championships in mind.
“He is still pretty unexposed and hopefully we can get him back on track. He is comfortable over a stiff five furlongs or six furlongs and this race looks a good stepping-stone to other races during the winter.
“There is a nice race at Southwell over six furlongs next month and obviously there is Finals Day as the ultimate aim at the end of the season.”
A strong field for the class two feature includes Charlie Hills’ G2 scorer Equilateral, who chased home Night Raider in a conditions race at Kempton Park last month.
2023 Ayr Gold Cup victor Significantly lines up for Julie Camacho after undergoing wind surgery, while Kevin Ryan’s Bergerac looks to follow up a good third in this year’s Ayr Silver Cup.
Middleham Park Racing is doubly represented, with 2023 G2 Norfolk Stakes runner-up Malc (Richard Fahey) joined by multiple all-weather scorer Ziggy’s Missile (Robert Cowell), who has been gelded since his latest appearance.
Juan Les Pins bids to recapture his best form for Mick Appleby, which includes a second to Diligent Harry in February’s Listed Hever Sprint at Southwell.
Kylian was an impressive Listed winner at Sandown Park last year for Karl Burke. Switched to Archie Watson, his best effort so far this term is a second at the Shergar Cup.
Bond Chairman (Bryan Smart), the returning Strong Power (Brian Ellison) and Spirit Of Applause (Tim Easterby) complete the lineup.
Elsewhere on the card, John & Thady Gosden saddle eye-catching debutant Lemurian in the Always Gamble Responsibly With BetMGM EBF Novice Stakes. The Dubawi colt is a full-brother to the stable’s G1 scorer Journey.
Wolverhampton also stages class two action on Saturday night, with a field of 12 going to post for the Stay Safe Players With BetMGM Handicap (6.55pm) over seven furlongs.
The lineup includes recent course and distance scorer Yorkshire (Ed Bethell) and Irish raider Final Voyage (Johnny Murtagh), who finished third in a well-contested Kempton Park handicap on Wednesday.
The first race is off at 17h39 on Friday.
