'We've done quite a bit of stalls work with him' - William Haggas hoping for good start from Maljoom to set up Group 1 tilt

The classy Maljoom kicks off his 2025 campaign in the Listed BetMGM Tandridge Stakes at Lingfield, which could be a prelude to a trip to Meydan in April for the Group 1 Dubai Turf.

The lightly raced six-year-old posted some high-class efforts in Group 1 company last year, notably when runner-up to Notable Speech in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and third to Charyn in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot.

A winner on his sole all-weather start at Kempton in 2022, Maljoom makes his first appearance since finishing sixth in the Group 2 Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown last September.

Trainer William Haggas said: “Maljoom has been back in work for a while now and we're looking forward to getting him started. He was slowly away in his races last year, which undoubtedly cost him the race at Leopardstown, so we've done quite a bit of stalls work with him.”

He added: “He had a go in the stalls at Chelmsford the other day and was good, so hopefully that has been ironed out, but this race will tell us more. Depending how he gets on here, he could go for the Dubai Turf.

“It would be nice to get a Group 1 with him as he performed well at that level last year. His run in the Sussex Stakes especially was very good.”

Tyrrhenian Sea: worth another try at the trip after two near misses last season

Tyrrhenian Sea: has a good record on the all-weatherCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Leading all-weather performer Tyrrhenian Sea heads the opposition as he chases a second Listed success at the track. He won the Quebec Stakes on New Year's Eve 2023 and has made the frame in all three subsequent starts, latterly when runner-up to Royal Champion in his attempt at a Quebec Stakes follow-up.

Trainer Roger Varian said: “We're coming back to a mile with Tyrrhenian Sea as he isn't short of speed. It was either this or the Winter Derby, but I don’t feel a mile and three furlongs around Southwell suited him last year.”

The Ed Walker-trained Popmaster has posted some solid efforts this winter, notably when third behind subsequent Meydan Group 2 winner Poker Face in the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton.

Dual turf scorer Imperial Express seeks her first all-weather success for Andrew Balding and the five-runner field is completed by Red Maids, a three-time winner at Newcastle this winter.

Three things to note on Friday

1. Harry Derham is yet to have a Grade 1 runner at the Cheltenham Festival, but he could have a contender coming from left field who could break that duck. Former Irish point-to-pointer Jus De Citron won nicely on his hurdles and stable debut at Doncaster in December and is as short as 25-1 for the Albert Bartlett in some bookies’ non-runner no bet markets. He steps up another furlong and a half in the 2m5f novice hurdle at Kempton, but faces a useful type in the Nicky Henderson-trained Kingston Pride, who was last seen being pulled up when 6-4 favourite for a Grade 2 at Sandown two months ago.

2. Rebel’s Gamble, a 135,000gns Book 2 purchase in 2023, has made a fast start to his career with two wins on the all-weather last month, the latter by a particularly impressive five and a half lengths at Newcastle two weeks ago. The three year-old Dark Angel colt is already rated 95 as he makes his handicap debut for Karl Burke and Clipper Logistics in a 6f contest at Southwell (6.15). He has to give away at least 10lb to the rest of the field, but looks like another smart recruit for a yard growing stronger by the year, and assuming he continues his progress here is a name worth remembering for when the turf season gets under way.

Rebel's Gamble18:15 Southwell (A.W)

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Jky: Clifford Lee Tnr: K R Burke

3. My colleague Craig Thake recently wrote about the abundance of ‘National’ races in Britain, the list of which seemingly grows longer every year. One of the more recent additions to the calendar takes place at Bangor with the North Wales National (2.12), which had previously been run just as a 3m5½f handicap before a rebrand in 2023. Craig is not the biggest fan of these marathon chases, but they do the job for me and there is no doubt sticking the word National in the title is an easy win for the marketeers. There are runners from yards up and down Britain, and one interesting contender is Lucinda Russell's Haute Estime, who was a close third in this last year, is now rated 5lb lower and showed real signs of returning to form when second at Kelso at the end of December.