Solar bids to eclipse rivals

Marco Botti: Sends Solar Deity to Wolverhampton

Solar Deity bids to book his place in the William Hill Lincoln when he lines-up for the williamhill.com EBF Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

The Marco Botti-trained four-year-old is around a 16/1 chance for the first big handicap of the turf season in two weeks' time.

But Botti wants to get this Listed contest over seven furlongs out of the way first before thinking of the Doncaster race.

"He's been in good form since his last run and although it is a Listed race, I think it looks a good opportunity for him," he said.

"He handles the track and the surface and the way he won last time it looks as though he is improving all the time.

"At the moment, he is still on target for the Lincoln, but let's see how he goes on Saturday first."

Kenny Powers only returned to Britain on Thursday after a spell in Dubai and his trainer Tom Dascombe is hoping the four-year-old can cope with the big difference in the weather.

"He's been running up to his mark in Dubai," said the Cheshire trainer.

"He only flew home on Thursday. As long as that doesn't have any adverse affect he must go close."Regal Parade returns to the scene of his first victory back in January 2007. The nine-year-old won there for Mark Johnston and went on to Group One success with Dandy Nicholls.

He is now with Milton Bradley, who reports the evergreen nine-year-old to be in good form ahead of his first run of the campaign, although he does have a couple of misgivings.

"We could have done with a bit-better draw (nine), but we have to put up with it," said the Sedbury trainer.

"The horse is quite well in himself and I'm hoping he'll run well.

"He's had quite a bit of work. I don't think he's quite 100% yet, but he's pretty good. I'd say if it was on turf he'd beat them. On the all-weather round bends it's a bit different.

"The horse seems well, we've a top man on board (Graham Lee), so we live in hope."

Light From Mars goes for Listed glory in the form of his life with back-to-back wins at Kempton.

His trainer Ron Harris is delighted with the eight-year-old's progress since the horse joined him from Ian Williams' stable over three months ago.

"He's in great order, he's had a few quick runs but has coped with that nicely and we are looking forward to a good run again now from him," said Harris.

"If we go back to his past history, he was a Spring Cup horse over a mile.

"His age is going against him a bit but he's not showing he's going backwards at the moment. He seems to be going forwards since he joined us."