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Botti pair set for Lingfield Park

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Marco Botti is planning to be represented in both Fast-Track Qualifiers at Lingfield Park on Saturday.

Italian trainer Marco Botti Picture: Racing and Sports

The Newmarket handler is hoping to run Grendisar in the £45,000 Listed coral.co.uk Winter Derby Trial over 10 furlongs and Foxtrot Romeo in the £45,000 Listed Unibet Cleves Stakes over six furlongs.

Grendisar was a decisive victor from stablemate Energia Davos in the Listed Coral App Download From The App Store Quebec Stakes over the course and distance on December 20.

It was the five-year-old's second Listed success of the All-Weather Championships, having captured the 12-furlong Floodlit Stakes at Kempton Park on November 5.

Botti said today: "We have freshened up Grendisar and the plan is to run on Saturday.


"He has done well over a mile and a half but we were keen to give him a go over a mile and a quarter. I thought he won well last time and proved he is just as effective over the trip.

"He seems in great form for this weekend and, although he will carry a penalty, he is a tough horse and I don't think it will be an issue for him.

"He is not one of those horses that will ever win by far. He is very consistent and always tries hard, but he does idle in front. Adam (Kirby) and Martin (Harley) get the best out of him and I don't think he is tricky because he doesn't try, I just think you need to get the timing right."

Grendisar's potential opponents include last year's winner Grandeur (Jeremy Noseda), who also annexed the £200,000 Coral Easter Classic on Good Friday last year, plus 2011 Group One Dewhurst Stakes winner Parish Hall (Jim Bolger IRE) and Group Three victor Graphic (William Haggas).

Fellow Newmarket handler John Gosden has two contenders in Cloudscape, who was a promising three-year-old last year, and course scorer Maverick Wave. The latter is owned by Godolphin, which has also entered Tryster (Charlie Appleby) who is going for a three-timer.

Other notables are Lamar (James Tate), who is already qualified for the 32Red.com All-Weather Fillies' And Mares' Championships on Good Friday, and classy turf performer What About Carlo (Eve Johnson-Houghton).

The coral.co.uk Winter Derby Trial is a Fast-Track Qualifier for the Coral Easter Classic at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, April 3.

Foxtrot Romeo is having his first start since an eye-catching length and a half victory in a six-furlong handicap at Wolverhampton on November 7.

The six-year-old has some high-class form to his name, notably when second to Power in the 2012 Irish 2,000 Guineas for trainer Bryan Smart.

Botti added: "Foxtrot Romeo won impressively on the All-Weather last time but has been gelded since.

"He is obviously an older horse and was probably just thinking about it a little bit. Hopefully, this will help him focus on the job.


"He has been working really well at home and I am really happy with his condition going into the weekend.


"I will speak to the owner (Andrew Tinkler) regarding whether or not we keep the blinkers on. I would imagine we might leave them on and see how he goes because it is a sharper six furlongs at Lingfield."

There are 11 other entries for Saturday's prize, including last year's Unibet All-Weather Sprint Championships hero Alben Star (Richard Fahey).

Other high-profile names include Instransigent (Andrew Balding), who took the Listed Unibet Golden Rose Stakes over the course and distance in November, and the returning Rivellino (Karl Burke).

The Unibet Cleves Stakes is a Fast-Track Qualifier for the £150,000 Unibet All-Weather Sprint Championships at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, April 3.

A superb seven-race programme also features the £45,000 Ladbrokes Handicap (2.15pm, 22 entries) over seven furlongs. George Margarson is planning to run the promising Shyron, who took a similar contest impressively over the course and distance on January 23.

Sir Mark Prescott has entered Don't Be, who has won her last five starts on the All-Weather, while the prolific Rich Again could step back up in trip for James Bethell.