Royal Champion heads nine entries for the 11-furlong G3 BetUK Winter Derby, one of the highlights of the All-Weather Championships at Southwell on Saturday, February 22.
A G1 runner-up on turf, Royal Champion made a sparkling all-weather debut as he defeated Tyrrhenian Sea by almost two lengths in the Listed BetUK Quebec Stakes at Lingfield Park in late December.
Trainer Karl Burke said: “Royal Champion is in great form. We were really pleased with his first run for us down at Lingfield and he came out of it very well.
“Although he has to prove he gets the 11 furlongs, I don’t see any reason why he won’t. There is stamina in his pedigree and he was very strong through the line at Lingfield over a mile and a quarter.
“He is a classy horse who runs well fresh, so we are hoping for a big run.”
The Gosden stable has won four of the last six renewals of the BetUK Winter Derby and could be represented this year by Military Academy, an easy winner of the Listed Floodlit Stakes last time out.
BetUK Winter Derby Trial victor Champagne Prince is one of two entries for Jane Chapple-Hyam alongside Claymore, who captured the G3 Hampton Court Stakes in 2022.
The Richard Hannon-trained Persica landed the Listed Doonside Cup at Ayr in September and was last seen out finishing eighth in the G1 Champion Stakes.
Old Harrovian could step out of handicap company for Andrew Balding following an impressive victory at Newcastle on AWC Trials Day.
There is Irish representation courtesy of Natalia Lupini’s Alanya, while course scorers Raja Raja and Pleasant Man complete the entries for David Simcock and Martin Dunne.
With £291,000 on offer across seven races, Southwell’s programme also features the five-furlong Listed BetUK Hever Sprint, in which last year’s winner Diligent Harry (Clive Cox) is among 13 entries.
Marshman had Diligent Harry back in fourth when taking the Listed BetUK Kachy Stakes at Lingfield Park earlier this month, following up his AWC Trials Day victory at Newcastle in January.
Trainer Karl Burke said: “Marshman has bounced back very well this winter.
“I am not sure about the drop back to five furlongs but he needs another run to qualify for Finals Day and the only six-furlong race I could find was another handicap.
“The other option is the Lady Wulfruna Stakes over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton. I would say he is likely to run this weekend but he is not a definite at this stage.
“It won’t be easy with his rating [110] on Finals Day but the race is worth a lot of money and he has that rating for a reason. I suspect we will head that way but we will see what the next month or so brings.”
Adrian Murray’s Valiant Force, winner of the G2 Norfolk Stakes in 2023, is one of two contenders from Ireland alongside Dundalk G3 victor Ostraka (Daniel Murphy).
Other entries to note include Robert Cowell’s Listed scorer Clarendon House and the Charlie Hills-trained Equilateral, who was a winner at the track earlier this season.
Royal Champion winning at Lingfield Park (credit: John Hoy)
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