Hooking, Marshman, Roaring Legend and Valiant Force headline 119 entries for the six finals on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Newcastle on Good Friday, (18 April).
Cloud Cover winning on Finals Day in 2024 (Pic – Grossick Racing Photography)
French challenger Hooking tops 19 entries for the 10-furlong BetUK Easter Classic as he looks to improve on last year’s third behind Elegant Man. Owned by footballer Antoine Griezmann, the nine-year-old is a five-time Listed winner on the all-weather for trainer Philippe Decouz.
Penzance finished second 12 months ago and could line up again for Mick Appleby. Other entries to note include the unexposed duo of Glen Buck (Roger Varian) and Old Harrovian (Andrew Balding), plus BetMGM Winter Oaks heroine Charlotte’s Web (Simon & Ed Crisford)
BetUK All-Weather Sprint Handicap contender Marshman is the joint highest rated entry on the card with a mark of 110. Trained by Karl Burke, Marshman was successful at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day and subsequently captured the Listed BetUK Kachy Stakes.
Last year’s victor Fivethousandtoone (Tim Easterby) is one of two former winners in the lineup alongside 2023 scorer Diligent Harry (Clive Cox). James Fanshawe is double-handed with Heathcliff and Listed scorer Willem Twee.
Roaring Legend heads 19 entries for the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap, with Hugo Palmer’s five-year-old chasing a £35,000 bonus thanks to AWC Trials Day victories at Newcastle and Lingfield Park.
Michael Bell’s Duke Of Oxford filled the runner-up spot last year and has since captured the London Stayers Series Final for a second time. Progressive duo Wonder Legend and Plage De Havre also feature for James Ferguson and Andrew Balding.
Cloud Cover is the star attraction in the BetMGM Fillies’ and Mares’ Championships Handicap as she chases back-to-back wins in the seven-furlong contest.
Successful last year off a mark of 89, Cloud Cover is rated a stone higher this time around following a Listed victory in France and a smooth success at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day.
Trainer James Tate said: “Cloud Cover did a good piece of work on Friday and it is all systems go to try and defend her title.
“She has had wind surgery since her last run. She had a little problem and had to have that rectified, but she has come out of it in great form.
“She is a stone higher in the ratings this time but, in fairness to her, she does look a stone better. Her form this winter is good, and I thought it was a nice performance at Newcastle.
“We know the track plays to her strengths and, looking at the entries, she should have a leading chance.”
Tate is also responsible for BetUK Easter Classic contender Smart Hero and Hello Zaman, who is set to make his handicap debut in the BetMGM All-Weather 3-Year-Old Championships Handicap.
He said: “Hello Zaman has been a work in progress. He improved a good chunk from his first to second run. I thought he would have won last time had he not wandered right near the line, in what looked a competitive novice. I think he has a decent chance of being well in at the weights and I am looking forward to running him.
“Smart Hero bolted up at Wolverhampton on his first try over this sort of trip, after which we decided to give him a break with the Easter Classic in mind. Clifford Lee gets on well with him and, if he can get him to relax, I think he could be a danger to everyone in the race.”
£35,000 bonus chaser So Darn Hot looks a leading player for Kevin Philippart de Foy in the BetMGM All-Weather 3-Year-Old Championships Handicap, following his dominant AWC Trials Day victories at Newcastle and Lingfield Park.
Berkshire Whisper leads a trio of Andrew Balding-trained contenders, while William Haggas is responsible for the progressive Carbine Harvester, who has won four of his last five starts.
Gr2 scorer Valiant Force (Adrian Murray) is one of three Irish-trained contenders in the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap, having proved his stamina for the distance with a conditions race success at Dundalk last time out.
Clive Cox has a strong hand with last year’s runner-up Kingdom Come and Cracking Gold, a scorer at Southwell on his latest start. A host of other last-time-out winners among the 22 entries include AWC Trials Day victors Destructive (Michael Bell) and Storm Star (Andrew Balding).
Away from the six finals, there could be Classic pointers in the mile Listed BetMGM Burradon Stakes. The 11 entries include Andrew Balding’s Gr2 Royal Lodge Stakes runner-up Royal Playwright and Detain, who is unbeaten in three all-weather appearances for John & Thady Gosden.
