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The 2015/16 All-Weather Championships are now entering their final month with just over three weeks to go until All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield Park on Good Friday, March 25.
There are five Fast-Track Qualifiers remaining with the totetrifecta Conditions Stakes (7.40pm), the final Fast-Track Qualifier for the £150,000 32Red All-Weather Marathon, taking place over two miles at Chelmsford City this Thursday, March 3. The Polytrack contest is also the last of the four Fast-Track Qualifiers run at Chelmsford City.
A field of six goes to post in the totetrifecta Conditions Stakes, headed by Godolphin's Pinzolo (Charlie Appleby/Adam Kirby). The five-year-old was a Listed winner over 10 furlongs on turf at Newmarket in 2014 and has won two of his four starts on the All-Weather, including over 14 furlongs at Chelmsford City in May, 2015. He made his first appearance of 2016 at Lingfield Park on January 23, his first start over two miles, when finishing a close third to stablemate Anglophile.
Charlie Appleby commented: "I was pleased with Pinzolo's reappearance at Lingfield, when he wasn't beaten far by Anglophile.
"They went a good, hard gallop that day and Pinzolo had to work hard to stay in front. He ended up paying the price and got tired in the last furlong.
"He has certainly come on for that run and goes to Chelmsford City in great nick. He needs to win to qualify for Good Friday but is the highest-rated in the field and looks like the one to beat."
Also set to go to post are Barye (Richard Hughes/Shane Kelly), who has won five times on the All-Weather including twice over 10 furlongs at Chelmsford City. Victorious on his last two starts in 12-furlong handicaps at Lingfield Park, he will be attempting two miles for the first time.
Notarised (Mark Johnston/Joe Fanning) was a model of consistency on turf last season, scooping valuable handicaps at York and Haydock. He was an encouraging third on his first start of the year at Lingfield Park on February 17, which was also his first try at two miles.
John Reel (David Evans/John Egan) finished one place in front of Notarised at Lingfield Park, where he was headed close home, and is the only member of the field to have won at two miles on an All-Weather surface. He also finished a close fourth in the 2015 32Red All-Weather Marathon on Good Friday.
A very interesting contender is Tommy Doc (Keith Dalgleish/Graham Lee). The four-year-old won on his only previous All-Weather start when taking a five-furlong maiden at Southwell in March last year. However, he subsequently proved himself a very useful performer over significantly further as the season progressed and went on to finish the half-length second in the Listed Queen's Vase over two miles at Royal Ascot. He will be making his first appearance of 2016.
Completing the field is Pearl Castle (Karl Burke/Dougie Costello). A dual winner over hurdles, he finished a close fifth behind Anglophile at Lingfield Park on January 23 on his most recent All-Weather start.
