No walkover this time for the exciting Bailarico at Leicester

The last time Bailarico was at Leicester he enjoyed a walkover but he must face three rivals this time around in the concluding Racing Excellence Training Series Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Hurdle (3.30).

Six days after hosting 45 runners, there are five less declared this time around on the all-hurdles card at the Midlands track where the chase course has been deemed too firm to race on for the third meeting running.

Clerk of the course Jimmy Stevenson has been battling the elements through the winter but has seen little rainfall to help conditions whilst many southern tracks have had deluges.

He said: "These are exceptional circumstances and we have had only 7mm of rain since the last meeting which has had zero effect on the ground.

"The chase course is still hard in places but we hope to have it back in action for our popular Christmas fixture on December 28."

Bailarico is back for more in the finale on the six-race card after walking over at the fixture earlier in December. A walkover involves cantering down a furlong and back past the stands and trainer Warren Greatrex joked: "Bailarico took the race well and was as fresh as a daisy the next day!

"Seriously though, we have always thought he was a nice horse and that may have done him some good as he likes to think he's top dog."

Prior to his first win over hurdles, the five-year-old was prolific on the Flat in the summer when racking up a five-timer culminating in a short-head success over Praeceps at Nottingham in August.

Greatrex added: "He won a point-to-point before he joined us so I knew he could jump but he had a good mark on the Flat so we decided to take advantage of that.

"He was a trainer's dream as he did not win by very far in that time and he has schooled well at home in the meantime. This looks a good opportunity but he will want further in time."

Military Law in force at Lingfield

Military Law steps out for the first time in over a year at Lingfield where he makes his Polytrack debut in the Betway Novice Stakes (1.40).

Owned by Qatar Racing and trained by John Gosden, the three-year-old represents connections of this year's Cartier horse of the year Roaring Lion.

Although not in that league, Military Law did get his head in front on the second of his two juvenile starts over a mile at Newbury last October.

The son of Dubawi had the useful Blue Mist back in second that day whilst the subsequent 105-rated Proschema was third.

During his 411-day absence, Military Law has been on the comeback trail from injury but has done plenty of work on the all-weather surfaces in Newmarket of late and won't lack for fitness.

Varian hoping for more joy

The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Khuzaam went down in many notebooks when chasing home the same owner's Dawwam on his debut at Lingfield last month and bids to go one better in the second division of the 32Red-sponsored novice race at Kempton (5.15).

The son of Kitten's Joy came off second best to another of his sire's offspring that day when given a considerate introduction by Jack Mitchell, but has to overcome a draw widest of all in stall 14 if he is to prevail.

Trainer Roger Varian, who has enjoyed a productive spell on the all-weather of late, said: "I think we are in the harder of the two divisions but we've always thought Khuzaam is a nice horse and hopefully he can overcome his outside draw."

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