Shabab Al Ahli faces Sahara King in today's feature race on day one of Spring Trials weekend at Newbury.
Charlie Appleby sends Southwell winner Shabab Al Ahli to the Darley EBF Novice Stakes this afternoon - the feature on day one of the Spring Trials Weekend at Newbury.
This Frankel colt bolted up in February under Conor Planas, earning a quote of 33-1 for the Derby. He steps down a furlong in trip today and will look to put this field to bed en route to a potential tilt at the Epsom Classic. The Moulton Paddocks handler won the inaugural running of the race in 2023 with Military Order - who went off as short as 9-2 for the Derby that year.
Sahara King looks like a nice animal, having won on debut at Wolverhampton back in November. The horse that finished fourth Mohaaraj has since tasted success, which gives the form some substance.
Another horse having his second run after winning on debut is the Gosden-trained My Love Is King, who holds a Derby entry and is currently 40-1 for the big one after winning comfortably at Newcastle in November.
The classy Gilded Prize will look to take top honours in today's Henri Matisse Coolmore Prix Cleopatre on the way to Chantilly for the Prix de Diane.
This scopey daughter of Frankel has only ran twice, but has made a startling impression in the early days of her career in the Juddmonte colours. Her career began in November with a straightforward success on the polytrack before she eye-catchingly stretched clear of her rivals under Colin Keane on reappearance last month. Francis-Henri Graffard had an amazing season last year, could he have unearthed another gem?
The owners' European Racing Manager Barry Mahon has said they are very excited about her and provided all goes well and she takes in the step up in class today, she would will be more likely to head to Chantilly over the Epsom Oaks at this stage.
In opposition, Turbulente finished three lengths shy of the favourite the last day and could close the gap for Christopher Head. Arkansas won in Listed company last time out and is of interest, with that day's third Warriors Whisper reopposing.
Some exciting pedigrees are on show in Newbury's 2.32pm Bridget 'Confined' Maiden Fillies' Stakes, with many of the top owners represented.
Synchronicity is a full-sister to the amazing Ombudsman, who won the Price Of Wales's Stakes and Juddmonte International last term before scoring in the Dubai Turf on reappearance for Godolphin. Given her pedigree, Kieran Shoemark's mount is likely to be towards the head of the market.
The Harry Charlton yard field the Juddmonte-owned Sapphire Secret - a Kingman filly out of Whatami. This three-year-old is a half-sister to Sir Delius, who won the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes down under last week.
Flying the flag for Shadwell is the Gosden-trained Seet, who is a half-sister to the reigning champion filly Kalpana, who retained that crown at Ascot back in October.
William Haggas has won three of the last five renewals of this race and sends Song Of The Clouds into battle this time around. This daughter of Night Of Thunder is related to Group 3 winner Mighty Ulysses.
Time Lock's full sister Take A View debuts in Newbury's Dreweatts Maiden Fillies' Stakes over ten furlongs but faces lots of other nice types make their first starts. Of those with experience, Allaire could the one to beat for the formidable combination of Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding.
At Bath, Jack Morland's Hunky Dory must shoulder a 5lb penalty in the MJ Church Handicap after bolting up at Wolverhampton the last day. He tackles the minimum distance of five furlongs for the first time today, having previously ran over seven and six. The rest of the field are not in a great run of form but Jax Edge did manage a win on her second-last start.
