Chelsea Lad 'doing everything right' ahead of belated return

3.40 Newbury
Be Wiser Insurance Spring Cup Handicap | 1m | 4yo+ | ITV/ RUK

Eminent ran out an impressive winner of Thursday's Craven Stakes to provide Martyn Meade with the biggest moment of his training career, and Chelsea Lad could cap an excellent week for the yard by claiming this £50,000 handicap.

Chelsea Lad was eliminated from the Lincoln having been all the rage in the ante-post market, but now gets the chance to prove whether connections are correct in thinking a handicap mark of 96 underplays his ability.

Only seven went to post for last year's running of the Spring Cup – which was held on the all-weather at Chelmsford with Newbury waterlogged – but we are back to the usual cavalry charge, with 21 declared. That is unlikely to stop punters from piling into the lightly-raced Chelsea Lad, who is expected to go off hot favourite with Ryan Moore in the saddle.

Good record

Richard Fahey has trained the winner of this race three times in the last ten years and is represented by Another Touch and Home Cummins.

What they say

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Pacify
He's in good shape now but had an issue after Royal Ascot, which is why he hasn't run since then. This is a good stepping stone to start. He'll need it because he's ring-rusty, but the stiff mile will suit.

Rod Millman, trainer of Master Carpenter and Sir Roderic
Both were drawn the wrong side of the track when they ran at Doncaster last time and they're drawn on opposite sides of the course here, so we'll have to see if either is at an advantage. Easier ground would suit them better but my horses are running well and they'd have a chance.

Martyn Meade, trainer of Chelsea Lad
It was disappointing he didn't quite make the cut for the Lincoln – we had him primed for that so have just kept him ticking over. He's been off the track for a long time but he's been doing everything right at home and I couldn't be more pleased with him. He had a stinker of a run when winning at Newmarket so I think we've got off quite lightly [with his new handicap mark]. We're raring to go.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Another Touch and Home Cummins
I don’t know what happened with Another Touch in the Spring Mile at Doncaster. He never ran his race but had stepped off the plane from Dubai only three days beforehand. It's nice to see Home Cummins back out. We’ve been happy with her preparations.

David Menuisier, trainer of Havre De Paix
I'm very happy with her, and the reason she under-performed at Deauville on her latest start was because she picked up a little injury. She's in very good form but if the ground was on the fast side she may not run as she came back after a run on quick ground at Ascot last year all jarred up.

Karl Burke, trainer of London Protocol
He's come out of his run in the Lincoln consolation race really well and I'm pleased with him. I think he can be competitive off his mark but this looks a tough race and there will be four of five horses who will be well in.

Marcus Tregoning, trainer of Storm Ahead
How he will handle the fast ground is the unknown – and I'd be quite surprised were it not fast by the time of the race. He's not an overly-big horse but hopefully there's a bit more to come this year, and I've been happy with him at home.