Finals Day hopeful Diligent Harry is the headline act as Southwell stages a twilight fixture worth £254,000 on Sunday.
Diligent Harry tops the weights for the Weekly £5 Free Bet With BetUK Handicap as he looks to qualify for the BetUK Sprint final, a prize he won in 2023.
Diligent Harry winning on Finals Day in 2023 (Pic – Grossick Racing Photography)
Third in last year’s Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint, the seven-year-old has yet to replicate the same level of form in two starts so far this winter, latterly finishing fifth in February’s Listed BetUK Hever Sprint.
Other potential BetUK Sprint final contenders in the lineup include Archie Watson’s Shartash, who was third behind Ferrous (Jack Channon) at Lingfield Park’s AWC Trials Day.
Malc makes his first appearance since filling the same position behind Marshman at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day in January, having made the frame on his two other starts this season.
Richard Fahey’s four-year-old was a high-class juvenile in 2023, most notably finishing second in the Gr2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Tim Palin of Middleham Park Racing said: “The form of Malc’s last race with Marshman is working out well, and he has gone well fresh, which is why we have not overexerted him this season.
“For most of his life he has been operating over five and six furlongs on straight tracks, so six furlongs around a bend at Southwell will be something new for him.
“Whether that will catch him out, we will have to see, but he has proven himself on the Tapeta and, from a handicapping perspective, I think he has every chance.
“The Sprint final is the aim after this. We toyed with the idea of going straight there, but the prize money this weekend lured us in. We are happy to roll the dice here and on Good Friday.”
Andrew Balding’s Purosangue heads several runners making their first appearance of 2025, with the four-year-old having placed in two Gr3 contests last year.
The William Haggas-trained Wiltshire posted two good performances at Newcastle in 2024, winning a handicap in June and finishing third in the Listed BetUK Golden Rose Stakes.
Richard Fahey has three contenders in total, with Malc joined by returning duo Strike Red and Vintage Clarets, who were both successful on turf in the autumn.
Holkham Bay (William Knight) progressed through the ranks last year with a pair of handicap successes at Ascot, while the pick of Korker’s efforts for Karl Burke included a third in the Ayr Gold Cup.
Bottom weight Aramram makes a quick reappearance for Richard Hannon after finishing second at Kempton Park last weekend, while Spangled Mac returns from a campaign in Bahrain for George Boughey.
Stewards’ Cup third Billyjoh and Woolhampton, a four-time scorer on turf last year, complete the field for Mick Appleby and Rod Millman.
