Revived Briardale out to claim a second win in the Zetland

Racing UK Zetland Gold Cup | 1m2f | 3yo+ | RUK

Briardale aims to put a stop to a dismal string of performances since he romped to a six-length win 12 months ago in Redcar's historic bank holiday handicap which is restored in value to £50,000 this year.

The horse who collected a first prize of £16,000 last year has £31,000 to chase if he can turn around a sequence of efforts in which he was beaten a combined 131 lengths in his last three runs.

Those displays confounded trainer James Bethell, but the gelding can at least race off only a 5lb higher mark than a year ago having risen to a mark of 100 during last summer's peak.

"Briardale was in great form after Redcar until he went to Newcastle," said Bethell. "I don't know what happened to him there but he was never the same horse afterwards. He never ran a race and we couldn't get his blood quite right. He just completely lost his way.

"He seems to be back in very good form but I think it is a much hotter race than last year. He looks marvellous and I would like to think he would run a good race. It's just I don't know why things went so wrong."

Briardale, not well drawn in 11, faces more and better rivals this time with four horses rated 100 and above including Godolphin's Leader's Legacy and Restorer, a winner at Chester last time for trainer Ian Williams, who won the prize in 2014 with Cashpoint.

"Restorer performed really well at Chester under conditions that were not ideal," said Williams. "Although up 5lb he would probably be more suited by the track at Redcar."

Via Via is rated 101 and trainer James Tate said: "He never had many starts in the first few years of his life due to injury but he seems pretty sound and we're getting a few runs into him.

"We just thought last time out at Windsor that he could do with a little bit further. He is bred to get it so we'll see how he goes over a mile and a quarter."

Jim Goldie is another trainer to win this race before and he saddles two in Sir Chauvelin and Nicholas T.

"It's good to see it back up to £50,000 where it should be all along," he said. "It's a race I always like to target. Nanton won it and ran well in it.

"Both mine are capable but one would be a better at a mile and one better at a mile and a half. Nicholas T's mile form is very good but a mile-two in this class might stretch him a bit. Sir Chauvelin has nothing else in this class to run in at this time of the year. The trip will be sharp for him but fast ground will suit both."

Bogart plays it again over hurdles

Humphrey Bogart: 2016 Lingfield Derby Trial winner tries again over hurdlesCredit: Mark Cranham

In February there were slight hopes Humphrey Bogart, who finished fifth in the 2016 Derby, might make up into a Cheltenham Festival candidate after his switch to jumps with Nicky Henderson.

However those hopes were quickly dashed when he could finish only eighth on his National Hunt debut and first run in 18 months in the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton, beaten 49 lengths.

He has had another run on the Flat since running a far better seventh in a Listed race and has a second attempt at the smaller obstacles in a Class 5 maiden hurdle at Huntingdon (2.00).

Bedrock tries his luck on the Flat

Making the switch in the other direction is Bedrock, who finished third behind Lalor in the Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in April.

A beaten favourite on his first run on Flat in two years at Doncaster last time, he moves up to 2m for the £14,000 handicap at Chelmsford (3.50).

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