Roaring Lion tunes up for 2,000 Guineas bid as Craven meeting approaches

Roaring Lion John Gosden
After around 44mm of rainfall over the Easter weekend the grass gallops were out of bounds for many trainers working their Craven meeting hopes, including Gosden, who instead made the short trip to the Al Bahathri Polytrack. The mile-long facility was closed for two months before Christmas to take out a dip just after the six-furlong pole and the Qipco 2,000 Guineas hope enjoyed the more gradual rise under Robert Havlin. The Racing Post Trophy runner-up could reappear in the Group 3 Craven Stakes in a fortnight's time.

Expert EyeSir Michael Stoute
The one-time ante-post favourite for the 2,000 Guineas left Stoute scratching his head when flopping in the Dewhurst last October, when a combination of things went against him. Ryan Moore went through the gears on the son of Acclamation, who worked with promising pair Eqtidaar and Qaroun on the Al Bahathri. The Khalid Abdullah-owned colt could head straight to the Newmarket Classic on May 5.

James Garfield George Scott
Scott made the long trek across town from Hamilton Road to use the Al Bahathri, a route probably last plotted by Ben Hanbury in the 1990s. Last year's Mill Reef Stakes winner finished strongly in his pairing and connections are eyeing a 2,000 Guineas trial, possibly the Listed European Free Handicap at Newmarket.

Masaarr Roger Varian
Varian has ridden out with his string on his hack Gerry in recent weeks, but he was back in his black jeep to supervise his lengthy worklist on the Al Bahathri. The Lingfield maiden winner bounded clear of his lead and may reappear in novice events at Kempton or Wolverhampton this weekend.

Dukhan arrives at Chelmsford for his workout on Tuesday

Dukhan Hugo Palmer
Palmer boxed 22 horses down the M11 to work at Chelmsford on Tuesday and it was a return trip for this son of Teofilo after he won his maiden there over a mile last October. The three-year-old was just a shell of a horse last year but finished on top in his exercise under Emma Clutterbuck in company with Employer (Angie Shea) and Delsheer (Danny Brock) and could be set for a good season.

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