3 minute read

Three-year-old goes for gold at Lingfield.

Diligent Harry bids to make amends for a narrow defeat over the course and distance when he returns to Lingfield for the Ladbrokes 3 Year Old All-Weather Championships Conditions Stakes on Friday.

A slow start put the Clive Cox-trained colt on the back foot and the race did not go to plan after that. Despite finishing strongly, Diligent Harry could not quite peg back Rohaan and was beaten a short head.

He had been up with the pace when winning his only two previous starts at Wolverhampton and Kempton. The latter race was over the minimum trip, but Cox believes six furlongs is his optimum at present.

"He's got a lot of potential and he's still very much learning his job, but because of that he's entitled to find more progress, I think," said the Lambourn trainer.

"He's very quick, we did drop him back to five furlongs for his second outing, but that was more because the opportunity arose than being a necessity.

"I think six furlongs is where we want to be with him at the moment."

Victory Heights staked his claim with victory at Wolverhampton when four of these rivals – Mighty Gurkha, Yazaman, Zamaani and Bakersboy – finished directly behind him in second to fifth places respectively.

Trainer James Tate is hoping the son of Siyouni can overcome a wide draw.

"We love Victory Heights, he's as game as a pebble. I thought he was really tough and put in a good performance when he beat some of these horses at Wolverhampton back in December," said the Newmarket handler.

"This has been the plan ever since. It looks like a very competitive, tight little contest and we haven't go the best of draws (in stall 10). I'm sure him and Luke Morris will be giving it their best shot anyway."

William Haggas reports Yazaman to be in fine form.

"Yazaman is in good shape and will have the blinkers back on for this," said the Newmarket handler.

"He was drawn widest of all last time and we took the view that we would drop him out. He ran OK, but never really got into the race."

Andrew Balding is praying there is a strong gallop for Ranch Hand in the Betway All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes.

"He wouldn't want it to be a tactical race with an injection of speed off the final bend," Balding told Sky Sports Racing.

"James Doyle is riding him and he'll be given a free rein to ride him as he sees fit. I'm sure he'll get it right."

Just seven runners will line-up for this two-mile test with Alan King's Rainbow Dreamer and Amityaz from the in-form team of John and Thady Gosden among the leading fancies.

Tim Easterby feels Lampang will be adaptable whatever the pace in the Betway All-Weather Sprint Championships Conditions Stakes.

"He's a very straight forward horse. He can go up there or drop in. It doesn't matter. It depends how the race goes," said the North Yorkshire handler.

"You've got to have a jockey who rides the track well. That's the main thing at Lingfield. Silvestre (de Sousa) rides it well, so things should be good.

"It's a pretty competitive race. You can give a lot of horses a chance."

Ado McGuinness's Irish raider Harry's Bar will have plenty of supporters, while others with chances in the 12-strong field include Summerghand, Highland Dress, Venturous and Lord Riddiford.