Time for frustrating UAE Prince to deliver says Roger Varian

Matchbook "Best Value" Exchange Handicap | 1m2½f, 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Identifying the future Group winner in this field could be key for punters given the race’s recent roll of honour.

Thundering Blue landed the prize last year before going on to win the Group 2 York Stakes and twice finishing placed at Group/Grade 1 level.

The 2017 winner Master Carpenter had alrady won at Group 3 level, 2015 winner Mahsoob went on to win the Group 3 Earl of Sefton Stakes, 2014 victor Clever Cookie subsequently scored in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup in 2016, while 2012 winner Gatewood went on to land the Group 3 Geelong Cup in the same year.

Perhaps the most likely runner in this field to follow in those illustrious hoofprints is UAE Prince, a one-time Derby hopeful who, if all his ability is channelled in the right direction, has what it takes to score here.

Trainer Roger Varian said: “He’s a frustrating horse and owes us one of these big races really.

“Things have got to fall right for him, however, as he’s not the most straightforward character. Hopefully they will in this race and he can get his head in front where it matters.”

Can Grandee repel Newmarket challenge?

UAE Prince is one of a number of runners in this contest representing Newmarket yards, which have won six of the last ten editions.

Big Kitten (William Haggas), Lucius Tiberius (Charlie Appleby), Abe Lincoln (Jeremy Noseda) and The Emperor Within (Martin Smith) are the other Newmarket stables contesting the race this year.

Local yards have done less well recently, with only Clever Cookie winning for a Yorkshire-based stable, but Roger Fell, who trains an hour away in North Yorkshire, is hopeful Grandee can follow up his recent wide-margin success with another victory.

"I'd like to think he's in with a big chance," Fell said. "He's in really good form, really good order, and he's a happy horse right now.

"He had Group form as a younger horse so if he's been able to do that before it's just a case of trying to find it again, and I really hope that we've been able to do that."

What they say

Jeremy Noseda, trainer of Abe Lincoln
He’s a grand old horse and it's just a case of seeing if we can try and get the best out of him again. He's in good form.

Martin Smith, trainer of The Emperor Within
He's come out of his race in France last time well and the ground just went too soft for him over there. I think the handicapper probably has him about right, but I think the track and the distance will suit him and his jockey Gerald Mosse is one of the best around. I think he's got a cracking each-way chance.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Society Red
The ground is no problem for him and he's won at the track, so that will suit him, but it's a competitive race.

Geoff Harker, trainer of Scottish Summit
It's his first run of the year and he progressed as the season went on last year. He seems well at home and he's getting bigger and stronger each year, so I'd like to think he can progress again this year.

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