Lingfield preview: Big-race claims go on the line on what promises to be a fascinating card at Lingfield today.
Seven Magicians is an intriguing entry from Michael Stoute's powerful Newmarket yard for the totesport.com Oaks Trial, and she can advertise her credentials for next month's Epsom Classic.
The well-related daughter of Silver Hawk is bred to need middle distances to show her best and put in a eye-catching run when staying on takingly to finish fourth in a Kempton maiden last September.
She was put away for the winter after that encouraging debut run over seven furlongs, and the extended one-mile-three of today's Listed contest should play to her strengths as she was outpaced in the straight before finishing as well as anything.
Interestingly, young Ryan Moore, touted as a future Stoute stable jockey, takes the ride.
The Letheby & Christopher Derby Trial is unlikely to throw up such a strong candidate for top honours. It does, however, look a good opportunity for the John Dunlop-trained Kong.
He is still a maiden after three runs but travelled well on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket before going down by a short head. He looks just the type to improve again and can prevail in what looks a sub-standard renewal.
The meeting at the Surrey venue is boosted by the addition of the Totesport Victoria Cup, which has been transferred from Ascot owing to redevelopment work there. Prince Of Thebes, who bypassed an easier opportunity at Chester this week, should be followed in this seven-furlong heritage handicap.