Wissahickon out to become a true all-weather great in Easter Classic

Wissahickon lines up in the Betway-sponsored Easter Classic (4.15) looking to secure the title of all-weather horse of the year and solidify his reputation as one of the best horses to have run on the surface in Britain.

The John Gosden-trained four-year-old has comfortably won on all three starts over course and distance, including last time out in the Winter Derby.

He beat runner-up and reopposing stablemate Court House by three and a quarter lengths on that occasion, and Gosden is hopeful his talented colt can overcome a bad draw and justify odds-on favouritism.

He said: "Wissahickon has the worst of the draw but likes the track and should run a nice race again. His blood wasn't right after the Winter Derby so we pulled out of a trip to Dubai and this was the most obvious alternative.

"He's breezed nicely on the Al Bahathri as has Court House who deserves to take his chance after finishing runner-up in the Winter Derby."

Among his chief threats is the Mark Johnston-trained Matterhorn, who has won six times this season and has the chance to secure the winningmost horse award on countback if he is successful and Lion Hearted fails to fire in the opener.

Wissahickon storms clear of the pack in the Winter Derby, including stablemate and Easter Classic rival Court House (green)Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Executive Force also has the chance to level the score with Lion Hearted, but that looks unlikely as he is the outsider of the eight-runner field for Michael Wigham.

Pizzicato flys the flag for France

The three-year-old championship (3.40) looks an open race with plenty of runners boasting potential to claim the £93,375 first prize.

Among those is Pizzicato, who arrives from France and is a rare international raider for Fabrice Chappet, having had just four runners in Britain since 2015.

Pizzicato has won two of his last three starts, including a Listed race at Chantilly, with Christophe Soumillon booked for the ride.

Other contenders include the William Haggas-trained Deputise, who bids for a hat-trick, and Charming Kid, trained by Richard Fahey. He finished third to Advertise in last year’s July Stakes and was a comfortable winner at Dundalk in January.

Charming Kid bids to earn his third career win for Richard FaheyCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Fahey said: "The draw in stall 12 hasn’t been too kind to us and he’ll need a bit of luck from there. That said, he’s in great form and we’ll see how the race develops."

Among the maximum field of 12 set to go to post is the Marco Botti-trained Fares Kodiac, the mount of Tom Marquand.

Botti said: "He has a bit to find on ratings but will handle the track and a sharp six furlongs is his best trip."

Rasima looks to continue fine form for Varian

Rasima earned qualification for the fillies’ and mares’ championship (2.30) by winning the Listed Fleur De Lys Stakes at the course over a mile last time and trainer Roger Varian is hopeful she can follow up that success.

The highest-rated of the field, the four-year-old boasts plenty of speed and Varian highlighted how much he thinks of her during a stable tour in which when he said she had been kept in training to win a Group race.

He said: "She's a very versatile filly and isn't short on speed, and I think she'll be okay dropping back in distance."

Island Of Life, a Listed runner-up for William Haggas last month, appears a likely danger, as does the Andrew Balding-trained Crossing The Line, who has won five of her last seven starts.

The lightly-raced Heavenly Holly returns from a break and lines up for Hugo Palmer in the 12-runner field.

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