Balding hoping Crossing The Line can continue to improve

Andrew Balding had a superb year in 2018 with Crossing The Line and hopes the four-year-old filly can continue her progress in an all-weather championships fast-track qualifier at Wolverhampton (2.50).

The winner of the seven-furlong conditions race will gain a free and guaranteed place in the valuable Fillies and Mares Final at Lingfield on Good Friday, a contest Balding stated is only a possible target for the daughter of Cape Cross.

Speaking on Tuesday, Balding said: "She won last time out at Chelmsford and has been very consistent, although this is another step up.

"She seems in good form at home and should run well. The race on all-weather finals day is obviously valuable and it’s a possibility, but it’s a long way away. We’ll see how she does tomorrow first."

Crossing The Line won four of her six races last year, beaten only a neck and a head in her two defeats, and her most recent victory at Chelmsford last month came at the expense of Lucymai.

The Dean Ivory-trained Lucymai has an admirably consistent record on the all-weather, including seven wins, and re-opposes at the West Midlands course, although her trainer is aware of the size of the task she faces.

Ivory said: "She’s very well, she’s run there before and hasn’t run badly either time. You’ve got two horses in there who have both beaten her before, so it’s a very strong contest."

Reflecting on Lucymai's good all-weather record, Ivory added: "She’s a nice filly to train. She’s obviously quite high in the handicap now. She's suited well to the all-weather but it's a very tough race.

"The plan is to get to all-weather finals day, but you make a plan and sometimes it can change. After this run, she'll only run once more before the finals."

Castle Hill Cassie looked sharp when winning over course and distance last time out, and it is noticeable trainer Ben Haslam has recruited Jason Watson to ride the five-year-old for the first time.

Haslam said: "It will probably require a career best to win on Wednesday as she has to give 3lb to the rest of the field, which means she is 4lb wrong with a couple of them. But on the flip side she will have that 3lb up her sleeve off level weights come April.

"After Wednesday, she is going to be covered by Zoustar at Tweenhills Stud, probably in late February or early March. Then she will run on Finals Day hopefully in foal to Zoustar. That will most likely be her swansong."

Roy's Legacy hits new milestone

Not many horses have 150 career runs but that is something Roy's Legacy will achieve for trainer Shaun Harris in the 5f classified stakes at Wolverhampton (12.40).

Roy's Legacy: set for 150th start on WednesdayCredit: Mark Cranham

The ten-year-old was bought as a yearling for just £4,000 in 2010 but has picked up 21 wins and over £82,000 in prize-money for connections in his lengthy career.

Two of his last three wins have come at Wolverhampton and although this prominent racer has failed to threaten the frame recently, he has been handed a plum draw in stall one.

Elliott targets Scotland again

Gordon Elliott has already had 22 winners in Scotland this season, although the majority of them have come at Perth. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see him send two runners to Ayr, both owned by Hambleton Racing.

Savannah Moon was a two-time winner on the Flat for the same owners and trainer Kevin Ryan. She makes her debut for Elliott in the 2m4½f maiden hurdle (12.30), while the lightly-raced Whoshotthesheriff makes his hurdling debut in the 2m novice hurdle (1.35).

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