Roaring Legend aims to secure an increased bonus opportunity as Lingfield Park stages the second All-Weather Championships Trials Day of the season today.
Roaring Legend winning at Newcastle (Pic – Grossick Racing Photography)
The winner of each £45,000 handicap on the card will be eligible for free entry to the corresponding Finals Day race at Newcastle, as well as a £15,000 bonus should they go on to win on Good Friday.
Roaring Legend and So Darn Hot are already eligible for a £15,000 bonus thanks to victories at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day in January and, if successful today, their bonus pots will increase to £35,000.
Roaring Legend concedes upwards of 9lb to his nine rivals in the BetUK AWC Marathon Trial Handicap over two miles.
The five-year-old is looking for his third straight win since joining Hugo Palmer, with his Newcastle victory coming on the back of a six-length success at Wolverhampton.
Palmer said: “We are looking forward to running Roaring Legend at Lingfield. We have been very happy with him since Newcastle and this looked the logical next step.
“We did not have him all that long before we ran him at Wolverhampton, but he has been a great addition to our squad. He is a lovely, powerful horse with a great way of going.
“He handled Wolverhampton very well when he won there, which would give you encouragement heading to Lingfield, and he is athletic enough to jump hurdles. I would hope the track will be fine for him.”
The opposition includes the lightly raced Moon Over Miami (Ralph Beckett), who shaped with promise on his first attempt at the trip last time out.
Two of Ireland’s most powerful Jump stables are represented, with Mr Escobar for Willie Mullins and Ted Hastings for Gordon Elliott.
Their compatriot Michael O’Callaghan has three runners on the card, including the unexposed Genoah in the BetUK AWC Middle Distance Trial Handicap over 10 furlongs.
Charlotte’s Web is chasing another significant success over the course and distance for Simon & Ed Crisford, following the BetMGM Winter Oaks and BetMGM Winter Oaks Trial.
Penzance landed this race 12 months ago for Mick Appleby before going on to finish second in the BetUK Easter Classic on Finals Day.
Those further down the weights include London Series Middle Distance Final scorer The Glen Rovers (Lucy Wadham) and Andrew Balding’s Royal Approval, a winner at Newcastle last time out.
There are nine last-time-out winners in the BetMGM AWC 3 Year Old Trial Handicap over six furlongs, with the weights headed by dual Wolverhampton scorer Good Banter (Clive Cox).
Four of the runners contested the corresponding trial at Newcastle, with So Darn Hot (Kevin Philippart de Foy) reopposing Yes I’m Mali (Richard Fahey), Motawahij (Karl Burke) and Marchogion (Andrew Balding).
The William Haggas-trained Carbine Harvester is seeking a four-timer following wins at Wolverhampton, Southwell and Lingfield Park.
Richard Hannon has a strong hand in the BetMGM AWC Mile Trial Handicap, with Gr2 scorer Witch Hunter accompanied by last year’s Mile Final victor Talis Evolvere.
Fantastic Fox (Roger Varian) finished third behind Talis Evolvere on Finals Day last season and filled the runner-up spot at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day last month.
Destructive arrives on the back of a pair of Wolverhampton victories for Michael Bell. Kalamunda, who was narrowly denied at the track last month, is another contender to note for Joseph Parr.
Shartash, a Gr2 winner as a juvenile, looks to overcome a rating of 107 as he makes his 2025 return for Archie Watson in the BetUK AWC Sprint Trial Handicap over six furlongs.
Richard Fahey’s Prince Of Pillo bids to back up a comfortable victory over the course and distance last time out, on what was his first appearance for 292 days.
Former Gr1 winner Emaraaty Ana returns from a campaign in Dubai for Jamie Osborne, while Mums Tipple (Richard Hannon) and Rohaan (David Evans) aim to rediscover their best form.
Aramis Grey, now in the care of Jack Jones, is the headline act in the seven-furlong BetMGM AWC Fillies And Mares Trial Handicap as she looks to go one better on last year.
Romanova is an intriguing contender for Ollie Sangster, with the four-year-old making her first appearance since contesting the Gr2 May Hill Stakes at Doncaster in 2023.
