Friday 29 March 2019 12:59, UK
Auxerre bids to show class can outweigh inexperience when the long-time ante-post favourite goes for glory in the Unibet Lincoln Handicap on only his fifth career start at Doncaster on Saturday.
The Charlie Appleby-trained gelding has done little wrong so far, winning his last three races after finishing second on his debut, but tackles seasoned campaigners on his reappearance.
Appleby had the option of taking Auxerre to Dubai, but felt this was the right move for a horse full of promise.
"Everything has gone well and he looks like a progressive performer. Hopefully it will be a nice, sound surface and if it is, he is going to be a lively player," said the Newmarket handler.
"We looked at this race for him at the start of the year. We felt he was off the right mark for it. We had considered taking him to Dubai, but we thought we would leave him back in the UK and have this as an early-season target.
"We feel he still has more scope going forward. Whether he makes up to a Group-race horse, we will see further down the line.
"I feel he has got enough class to overcome his inexperience. Experience is one thing he doesn't take into the race.
"If it was run on soft ground, you would want a horse that has been in a dogfight, but hopefully with it being on a sounder surface, it will allow him to move into the race and show his class."
Charlie Fellowes is expecting a big run from Chiefofchiefs, who is fit and raring to go back on turf after three runs on the all-weather during the winter.
"He's in really good form. I think big fields are going to be his forte and I've always felt this horse had a nice race in him somewhere," said the Newmarket handler.
"If they go a nice, strong pace and give him something to aim at, I think he'll run a big race."
Adrian McGuinness reports Salstonstall, the sole Irish challenger, to be in fine shape - but would prefer to see rain to aid his chances.
"He's in great form. He's very fit. We've done plenty with him. We could do with a bit of rain," said the County Dublin handler.
"That's my biggest concern with him - the rain - but he's fit and very well in himself. His work is very good and we're happy."
The five-year-old, who is having his first race since moving to McGuinness from Michael Halford's stable, is drawn next to Auxerre in stall 18.
"All the fancied horses are on one side. I spoke to someone earlier in the week and they said you want to be where the fancied horses are, so if the favourite is next to mine I want to be beside it," said McGuinness.
"We're in good company and hopefully they will be chasing me home! He's in good form."
Andrew Balding was pleased with Zwayyan's victory in the Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton, but is not quite sure what effect having to race from stall one will have on his prospects.
"Obviously he won the Lincoln Trial which was a good effort, an improved effort," said the Kingsclere handler.
"I don't know what the draw means, but we've got limited options from that draw. Hoping for the best.
"The horse has come out of Wolverhampton and we hope he can run well."
John Quinn feels Safe Voyage has claims if he can see out the mile.
"He has a squeak. His best form is over seven, but we've never really tested him over a mile," said the Malton trainer.
"He's only had the one race (at the trip), which was his last one at Ascot and that didn't go to plan.
"I'm very pleased with how he's training. He's fit and well, his work is good, but he just wouldn't want the ground too quick.
"It was probably the plan to save him for Ascot after he won at Galway, but it was a very dry summer in any case. He doesn't need soft ground, just nice ground.
"Hopefully it won't get too quick as I'm looking forward to running him."
Alan King is hoping Chatez can return to the form he showed winning the Spring Mile over the course and distance four years ago.
"Ideally, the ground would be softer, but Chatez won the Spring Mile there in 2015 and he ran some good races last autumn, so I'd hope he'd he competitive," the Barbury Castle trainer told www.alankingracing.co.uk.
"You can forget his hurdles form as he is a far better Flat horse than he is a jumper, but he has been in good form at home and deserves to take his chance."
King also saddles Beringer, who has been running over longer distances.
He added: "All Beringer's eight races last year were over 10 furlongs and it could be that he'll need to revert to the longer trip later, but he progressed 20lb up the ratings through the summer and is ready to start, though whatever he achieves here he'll improve on as the season progresses."
