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One trainer, one jockey, one horse and one race to watch on Saturday

Tabarrak (near): returns to action in the Listed Unibet Doncaster Mile Stakes
Tabarrak (near): returns to action in the Listed Unibet Doncaster Mile StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

One trainer . . . Paul Nicholls

Paul Nicholls salvaged a difficult Cheltenham Festival with two winners on the final day with Pacha Du Polder and Le Prezien, but will need a miracle run to catch his old rival Nicky Henderson in the trainers’ championship.

The ten-time champion trainer has been buoyed by the performances of his promising string of novices this season and turns to If You Say Run, in the EBF & TBA Mares’ 'National Hunt' Novices’ Hurdle Finale (3:15).

His six-year-old leads the market heading into the race and competes off the back of an impressive breakthrough hurdling season, having placed first or second in all five of her races.

One jockey . . . Ryan Moore

Three-time champion jockey Ryan Moore, regarded by many as one of the world’s best Flat riders, landed a 575-1 treble in the opening three races of the Doncaster meet last season, coming within a neck of a four-timer on board Oh This Is Us in the Lincoln.

Moore has three rides, including Fire Brigade, a talented four-year-old who has fair claims in the Lincoln.

“I haven’t actually sat on him before, either at home or on the track, but the talk is certainly positive,” said Moore on his Betfair blog.

“He looks like a horse who will be well suited by a strongly run race and hopefully he will have come forward again for his break.”

Moore also rides What’s The Story, who will step up a trip in the Spring Mile Handicap (2.25) and Intern, who runs in the UniBet Doncaster Mile Stakes (3.00) off the back of an impressive victory at Wolverhampton this month.

One horse . . . Tabarrak

The joint highest-rated horse on the card running off an 125 RPR, Tabarrak is the latest star to emerge from Hamdan Al Maktoum’s Shadwell Racing operation.

Trained by Richard Hannon, the five-year-old was last seen winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Cup Stakes at Newbury in September, holding off the challenge of Accidental Agent to land the listed race.

He shares favouritism with Roger Varian’s Zabeel Prince, who may be better suited to the conditions on his anticipated return to the track in the yellow and black silks of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid.

One race . . . Lincoln (Heritage Handicap)

The traditional curtain-raiser for the Flat season, the 22-runner 32Red Lincoln is headed by Moore’s mount Fire Brigade, Lord Glitters and Addeybb.

Trained by David O’Meara, Lord Glitters will be out to replicate the success of stablemate Bravery in last year’s race and recapture the form that saw him strike at the tail end of last season in October’s Balmoral Handicap at Ascot.

Addeybb was impressive last time out, landing the Shadwell Farm handicap under Ryan Moore at Newmarket in September.


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Published on 23 March 2018inNews

Last updated 19:19, 24 March 2018

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