Promising Alan King stablemates set to clash for a third time at Lingfield

Alan King stablemates Caspar The Cub and Cosmeapolitan face off for a third time in three months as they tackle the 1m2f Betway Handicap (2.40) at Lingfield.

The former, owned by the Barbury Lions, took the pair's first meeting at Kempton in November – his third successive victory en route to sequence of four – while Cosmeapolitan, a son of Mawatheeq, staved off Caspar at Lingfield on New Year's Eve to deny him a fifth successive victory.

Olly Stevens, assistant trainer to King, said: "They're both in great nick. Last time Cosmeapolitan was on 11lb better terms than the first time they met and that's evened up a little bit now.

"It was sad to see Caspar denied a five-timer because he has been a revelation on the all-weather this winter but it's very exciting to have them both there."

Such was the progression of Caspar The Cub this winter – on a mark of 94 now from 76 in October – that Stevens admitted there could be some lofty targets for the four-year-old should his improvement continue.

"He's got an entry for the Winter Derby [at Lingfield]. He'd need to keep progressing in order to line up there so the next few weeks will tell us a lot. I think if that sort of target is realistic you'd want to see him win tomorrow."

Pressed to select between the two, Stevens added: "For me personally it would be Caspar but if you ask the boss's other assistant Dan Horsford he'd probably say Cosmeapolitan - they are very difficult to split."

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