All the hot views with Corinthia Knight ready to lead the charge

3.40 Lingfield
32Red 3 Year Old All-Weather Championships Conditions Stakes | 6f | 3yo | ATR/ITV4

It takes a useful horse to win this three-year-old conditions affair, as demonstrated when William Haggas's 107-rated sprinter Second Thought took the inaugural running last year under Robert Winston.

Although Second Thought came from stall five and was held up in the early part of the contest, he had a position on the rail three back from the pacesetting Wick Powell.

It is crucial to take the inside line over this six furlongs trip, with the first left-hand bend coming less than a furlong into the contest.

Prominent runners hold an advantage, with it being hard to make up ground, and favourite backers will be hopeful Oisin Murphy can break well aboard Corinthia Knight to grab a prominent post from stall six.

Corinthia out to confirm ratings superiority

The winner of six of his 12 career starts, all on the all-weather, Archie Watson's three-year-old colt Corinthia Knight clearly comes out best on the ratings and will be the choice of many punters.

Rated 7lb clear of his closest rival with a mark of 105, Corinthia Knight should be streets ahead come the line if all ten runners perform to their ratings and bookmakers will be fearing an onslaught in the market before the off.

The Ontoawinner-owned runner seeks a four-timer, the latest victory coming in a 6½f Listed contest at Chantilly, which Watson believes gives him a great chance of landing this prize.

He said: "His win the other day at Chantilly is probably the best form on offer and I hope that, with a bit of luck in running, he'll go very close."

Charlton hope must overcome draw

Second Thought came into this contest last year with form figures of 2111, a remarkably similar profile to that of Roger Charlton's only runner on the Lingfield card, Breathless Times, whose figures read 211.

The son of Bated Breath made his debut only in December, when shaping with plenty of promise behind a runner with previous experience under his belt, and has shown considerable improvement to win both his starts since at Wolverhampton.

He has not come off the bridle in either of his victories, but his draw in stall nine isn't ideal.

Charlton said: "It's a step up in class obviously on the ratings. He's improved with every run – he's now very relaxed, he was a bit keen early on in life. Being drawn high isn't helpful, but he's in good form."

Rock On Baileys thriving in blinkers

The application of blinkers has had the desired effect on the only filly in the line-up, Rock On Baileys.

A five-race maiden before being fitted with the aid, Chris Dwyer's inmate has won all five of her subsequent starts and bids for a six-timer following victories here, at Chelmsford (twice) and Wolverhampton (twice).

She is set to be partnered by Silvestre de Sousa, who is 1-1 on her, and Dwyer said: "She's very well and ready to go. She's nicely drawn and has improved all year. This is obviously a stiff test but she's in great form."

What the rest say

Simon Dow, trainer of Albishr
It would be better if this race was over seven furlong or a mile but it’s down the road and, with so much prize-money on offer, it seems churlish not to go. He's improved every month and, physically, he's done very well in recent weeks. We've put some blinkers on him this time and we’ll see if that helps as he's trained well in them. He's in good form at home and we're hoping he can run a competitive race.

Jack Channon, assistant trainer to Mick Channon, trainer of Helvetian
His run at Kempton three starts back was very good. The small fields on his last two runs haven't really suited him. We're hoping a return to a bigger field will be better and he should run well.

Charlie Johnston, assistant trainer to Mark Johnston, trainer of Lake Volta
He ran well to finish third behind Headway in the Spring Cup and time will prove that was a very warm race. He has a bit to find on ratings with Corinthia Knight but he's in good form and has an each-way chance.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Never Back Down
He won his fast-track qualifier at the beginning of December and has come through two racecourse gallops at Chelmsford in great shape. He's grown quite a bit over the winter and goes there a fresh horse. Corinthia Knight is a worthy favourite but he finished third to us at Wolverhampton and we'll see if we can beat him again.

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