3 minute read

Last year’s Tolworth winner ran promising race at Ascot last time out.

Metier  is all set for Friday's Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield – the £100,000 highlight on the first day of the inaugural Winter Million meeting.

Harry Fry's charge has not won since landing the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle last January, finishing a well-beaten seventh in the Supreme at Cheltenham before disappointing when pulled up on his seasonal bow at Sandown in Decmeber.

But the six-year-old posted a much more promising effort when fourth in a valuable Ascot handicap hurdle before Christmas, and Fry expects conditions at Lingfield will suit his charge.

He said: "The Sovereign Handicap Hurdle is the plan for Metier.

"It was nice to see him bounce back in the big handicap hurdle at Ascot before Christmas and this race has been very much on the radar since then.

"Everything about the race should suit him well and we are looking forward to seeing him back on his favoured heavy ground."

Metier is one of 21 entries for the two-mile contest with Olly Murphy's Hunters Call heading the weights and Garry Clermont, Gowel Road and Hudson De Grugy other notable home-trained contenders.

Sean Doyle could send Lucky Max from Ireland as he seeks a fourth win on the bounce, while Emmet Mullins has entered Carrarea and Sevenna Star, the latter a one-time Classic contender on the Flat for John Gosden.

Fry also has a Friday trip to Lingfield pencilled in for the unbeaten Love Envoi, a former Doyle inmate who has won both of her two starts for new connections this term.

"Love Envoi has an entry in the Winter Million Mares' Novices' Hurdle and will also be entered in the Winter Million Novices' Handicap Hurdle on the Sunday," added Fry.

"She relishes testing ground and has done everything right so far, winning a bumper in Ireland and two hurdle races for us, and we would be hopeful that she can continue on an upward curve.

"The prize-money across the Winter Million weekend is very good and we are delighted to be targeting horses at it. Hopefully, we can win some!"

There are three £50,000 contests on Friday's supporting card, with On The Blind Side and Emitom topping nine entries for the Winter Million Hurdle over two miles and seven furlongs.

Eclair D'ainay, winner of the Castleford Chase for Dan Skelton, is the headline name among 13 contenders for the racehorselotto.com Handicap Chase. Stablemates Ashtown Lad and Midnight River feature on a list of 14 entries for the Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices' Chase.