Lancelot Du Lac impresses Dean Ivory

Dean Ivory believes last year's runner-up Lancelot Du Lac is the "best he has ever been" ahead of the Betway All-Weather Sprint Championships Conditions Stakes at Lingfield on Good Friday.

After winning his first two races of 2017 the seven-year-old was narrowly beaten in the Hever Sprint over five furlongs by Royal Birth, whom he meets on 3lb better terms.

"Lancelot Du Lac is doing very well at home and has been working nicely," said Ivory.

"I think six furlongs suits him better than five but it all depends on what other horses are in the race. Lingfield is an easier six furlongs than some other courses - he wants pace in his races and he should get that.

"Hopefully, he can jump, track the leaders, take a bit of a blow and then finish strongly.

"I think he is a probably the best he has ever been and you just need to cross your fingers for a bit of luck."

With the likes of Pretend, Kimberella, Mythmaker and Gracious John also in the field, Michael Herrington's Doc Sportello is likely to be an outsider but is more unexposed than most.

"First run for us at Newcastle he came to win the race, but it was a very strong wind that day, about 60mph, he wandered about and got beaten by a good horse in Tatlisu," said Herrington.

"Robert (Winston) came back in and said we had a potentially very good horse and we went back to Newcastle and he won a good race.

"He gets quite gassy and he's not a fan of the stalls so we've got to hope his mind is right."

In the 32Red All-Weather Fillies' And Mares' Championships Conditions Stakes, William Haggas' Muffri'Ha is favourite after three good runs in Dubai recently, while she also ended 2016 in fine form, winning a Group Three and a Listed race with a penalty.

Pat Cosgrave is the man in the saddle and he said: "She's been in Dubai over the winter and ran some nice races at the top level.

"It's her first run back here, but she won here before she went to Dubai, so she obviously handles the track pretty well.

"These races are always tough races, but she seems well and on the form of her last run, she has a great chance."

One of her main dangers is Kevin Ryan's Ashadihan, winner of a Group Three at the track this time last year and a winner at Newcastle last time out.

"It was impressive an impressive run last time out. We rode her a bit differently, a bit more positive, Kevin Stott gave her a great ride, got a real good tune out of her and she came out of the race really well," Ryan told At The Races.

"Good Friday was always the plan, she likes time between her races and likes to be fresh.

"She's won a Group Three at Lingfield and did well to win that day as she ran wide off the bend.

"She ran some very good races in top company after that, but the way we rode her from the back was making life difficult."

Charlie Fellowes' Carolinae, winner of three of her last five also takes her chance.

"She's in great nick. She's really earned a crack at a decent prize like this," said Fellowes.

"She's drawn three which is ideal, we'd like them to go a good pace as she likes to be held up so we need a bit of luck."

In the Betway All-Weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes, David Bridgwater's Cohesion is an interesting runner.

"Cohesion looks a good horse, doesn't he?" said Bridgwater.

"We initially bought him to go hurdling but by the time he was ready to run it was the wrong time of year for hurdling really.

"We had our eye on Cheltenham (Festival in March) and he could have won a hurdle race before then, but mentally I don't think he would have been ready to go to Cheltenham on the back of one run.

"We basically said that he is decent horse on the Flat so let's give him a couple of runs on the all-weather and then go hurdling next season. He then ran a really good race first time at Lingfield and has gone on from there.

"As soon as he steps up to two miles, I think you will see a better horse again. I would be gobsmacked if he doesn't stay.

"I think he deserves to be one of the favourites judged on his form last time and then you have got the Ryan Moore factor as well.

"When Oisin (Murphy) won on Cohesion at Wolverhampton, he actually said he is an Ebor horse. We will see what happens because I was thinking more of a Plumpton novice hurdle horse!"

Fellowes runs Prince Of Arran, who steps up to two miles for the first time.

"Prince Of Arran is drawn 13 of 14 which isn't ideal, we've kind of made up our mind we'll have to drop in from there," said Fellowes on Racing UK.

"He's in great nick but we don't know about the trip, it is a big question mark but I'm pretty confident he'll get it.

"We'll ride him to get it, he's got a good turn of foot and hopefully they go a decent pace."

Another favourite from the Haggas yard is Second Thought in the 32Red 3 Year Old All-Weather Championships Conditions Stakes.

"Second Thought is in good shape. He is improving and looks ready for this," said Haggas.

"He has obviously got a chance. I guess my concern is that he might be better over further than six furlongs, but he does have a bit of quality and a turn of foot which always helps.

"He is one to look forward to on the turf as well."