Chippendale takes to New stage

Al Kazeem: Developed into a Group race performer last year

All the attention at Newbury may well be focused on Frankel but another of Sir Henry Cecil's promising brigade also makes his reappearance at the Berkshire track as Thomas Chippendale contests the Blue Square London Gold Cup.

The superbly-bred son of Dansili, who still holds an Investec Derby entry, rounded off his juvenile season by winning a Leicester maiden from Went The Day Well, who was transferred to America and finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby.

Thomas Chippendale starts off in a handicap, but this is no ordinary handicap as it was taken last year by subsequent Group-class performer Al Kazeem.

"I went to see him do a breeze on the gallops this morning and he looked in great shape," said Barry Simpson, racing manager to the colt's owner, Sir Robert Ogden.

"I think he'll probably need the run, but saying that we are expecting a pretty decent performance.

"The Derby isn't really in our thoughts - I think he'd have to put in a pretty special performance to get us thinking that way - but you never know at this time of year.

"He's only had the two runs, but he's working well and there's a lot to like about the horse."

Winning Form

Many of Thomas Chippendale's rivals have been in winning form already this season such as the James Toller-trained Rewarded.

His form figures are flattered by a walk-over at Sandown but he followed up in a handicap at the Newmarket Guineas meeting.

"He came out of the race very well and we're keen to step him up in trip further than a mile as it has looked as if the further he goes, the better he goes," said Toller.

"I have elected to run him at Newbury rather than Newmarket this weekend as I thought the ground would suit him better.

"Like all these handicaps it's very competitive but I'm happy with the horse and I hope he'll run well."

Doubly Represented

Richard Hannon is doubly represented by Poetic Lord, the mount of Richard Hughes, and the Pat Dobbs-ridden Humungosaur.

"Poetic Lord won at Lingfield and Goodwood last season and was then beaten only five lengths by Main Sequence when fourth in a competitive handicap at Newmarket," the trainer told www.richardhannonracing.tv.

"That form looks pretty solid after Main Sequence's Lingfield Derby Trial victory, so our fellow must have a chance in what looks a tough race.

"Our other runner, Humungosaur is still a maiden, but he is a pretty good one, having already finished third in a Listed race at Deauville last year, so he would not be out of it either."

Trader Jack

Al Kazeem's trainer and owner, Roger Charlton and John Deer, are represented by Trader Jack, who must show more than he did on his reappearance at Sandown to follow in his stablemate's footprints.

Charlton is expecting more from Trader Jack, who is a cousin of Al Kazeem.

"Having won at Ffos Las on heavy ground in November he was rather disappointing in his comeback race at Sandown recently, also run on heavy ground," he told his website, www.rogercharlton.com.

"Rather to my surprise he was a bit free that day and the ground did not suit him as it was virtually unraceable.

"The race, as you would expect, is very competitive but I am hoping that he will produce a better performance."

Promising Horse

Andrew Balding's Expense Claim is two-from-two this year, while Mark Johnston has two unexposed runners with wins to their name.

Hajras is unbeaten in starts at Wolverhampton and Ripon with Icelander getting his head in front at Kempton last time.

Godolphin's Al Saham still has a Derby entry while Ed Dunlop's Almuftarris and Denis Coakley's Hurricane In Dubai are clearly going the right way too.

Dunlop also harbours reasonable hopes for Almuftarris.

"It's a very competitive race and there are obviously some fancied horses in there, notably Henry Cecil's runner," said Dunlop.

"He's a promising horse and was second to a horse of David Lanigan's at Yarmouth last year, Main Sequence, who won the Derby Trial at Lingfield, and he won his maiden last month by beating a nice horse of Sir Michael Stoute's (Commend).

"He should stay the trip and handle the ground, so he could run a nice race."