Racing (Horse) : General Horse Racing Thread

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Lingfield, Saturday


Blue Square Winter Derby (Group 3) 1m2f, 4yo+

PREMIO LOCO, beaten a nose into second in the Winter Derby three years ago, went one place better in the Group 3on Saturday.

Trained by Chris Wall for Bernard Westley, Premio Loco was given a fine ride by George Baker to defeat Cai Shen and Circumvent.

Baker had the eight-year-old, conceding weight to his 12 rivals, handy from an early stage and the pair were not for catching, rewarding punters who had backed them at 5-1.

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GEORGE GURU's victory in the final leg of the Scoop6 at Lingfield on Saturday secured a payout of £36,964 for nine winners who are likely to be faced with the William Hill Lincoln as they seek a slice of the bonus pool next week.

Very nice indeed.

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AIDAN O'BRIEN on Sunday warned that it would be "wrong" to say that 5-2 favourite Camelot was "likely" for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas after he was one of 44 Ballydoyle horses to work after racing at the Curragh.

Camelot, ridden by the trainer's son Joseph, quickened up well up the stands' rail at the end of aseven and a half furlong gallop to finish second in the first bunch of O'Brien's workers, which also included Ascot Gold Cup favourite Fame And Glory.

O'Brien did not rule out the 2,000 Guineas, but did not confirm that it was Camelot's target either.

He said: "It would be wrong to say that he is likely [to run in the 2,000 Guineas]. Obviously he's a possible, but not definite."

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Curragh, Sunday

Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes (Group 3) 1m, 3yo+, fillies & mares

CHRYSANTHEMUM ran out a comfortable winner at the Curragh for trainer David Wachman and rider Wayne Lordan, holding off the challenge of Aidan O'Brien's 7-4 favourite Twirl for a one-and-a-half length victory.

The four-year-old winner was coming back to 1m after running two of her three races last season over 1m2f, finishing with a below-par effort in the Blandford Stakes.

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TRAINER Aidan O'Brien said on Monday that no decision would be made until at least April about Camelot's participation in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The Racing Post Trophy winner emerged from winter quarters to take part in a traditional Ballydoyle racecourse gallop at the Curragh on Sunday after which O'Brien injected some uncertainty into his early season plans.

On Monday O'Brien, speaking at the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association 2011 Flat awards lunch, said: "Camelot seems to have come out of his work at the Curragh on Sunday in good form.

"We still have to decide whether he will go to Newmarket for the 2,000 Guineas and that decision will be made over the next few weeks."

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GAMILATI looks set to miss the Qipco 1,000 Guineas on May 6 after Godolphin on Monday revealed she had undergone surgery to have a chip removed from her near-fore ankle.

The Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained filly, whose two wins at Meydan this yearinclude the UAE 1,000 Guineas, will be out of training for several weeks but Godolphin hope she will return to action in the summer.

Quoted on Godolphin's website, racing manager Simon Crisford said: "Gamilati had a very good winter in Dubai winning the UAE 1,000 Guineas impressively, but unfortunately she has required surgery

.

Lets hope she comes back to do herself justice.

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LEGENDARY US trainer Bob Baffert was in a "comfortable" condition in hospital in Dubai on Monday after undergoing emergency heart surgery.

Sheikh Mohammed played a crucial role in ensuring Baffert, 59, obtained the best medical attention after suffering an early-morning heartattack at the Atlantis Hotel, where he was staying before Saturday's World Cup meeting.

One of the most recognisable figures in the racing world, California-based Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby three times and counts seven Breeders' Cup triumphs among a multitude of major victories in America. He has received the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer on three occasions.

Lets hope this great man makes a full recovery.

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GRAHAM LEE has announced he is to switch codes and become a Flat jockey on his return from injury next month.

Lee, whose wins over jumps include a Grand National victory on Amberleigh House and World Hurdle success on Inglis Drever, said he had struggled with the scales, albeit unusually his problem was keeping weight on, not off.

He told RUK: “I’m flying now, things are going great. I’m going to concentrate on riding on the Flat when I come back. I’ve always had to work very hard to keep weight on and since my fall at Southwell even more so.

“When I got back from the hospital I was 9st12lb, now I’m 8st12lb. I can’t really face the gym to put a stone back on so I’m going for the Flat.

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CINDERS AND ASHES, who struck gold when winning the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival this month, will not bid to follow up that success at Aintree's Grand National meeting.

Trained by Donald McCain for Dermot Hanafin and Phil Cunningham, Cinders And Ashes is set for a summer break with the Stan James Champion Hurdle his big target next term.

"After a discussion with the owners, it has been decided that Cinders And Ashes will not run again this season," McCain wrote on his Betfair blog.

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RICHARD HUGHES is as big as 11-2 (from 3) with Coral for the British Flat jockeys' championship after a BHA disciplinary panel on Wednesday decided to uphold a 50-day riding ban he incurred in India last month.

The panel's decision severely dents Hughes's hopes of winning a first title, as the ban rules him out of the first full month of the Flat turf season.

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SO YOU THINK, favourite for the Dubai World Cup, will mount his challenge from stall four of 14 for the world's richest race, with jockey Joespeh O'Brien declaring the favourite will "take all the beating."

Aidan O'Brien's contender will have second-favourite Smart Falcon next door in stall five, while Game On Dude, thirdin at 7-1, was last out of the hat and as a consequence is widest of all in stall 14.

Over confident methinks.

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DISCOURSE and Lyric Of Light, Godolphin's two leading fancies for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas, are set to head straight to Newmarket on May 6 without a prep run.

Lyric Of Light, who is as short as 8-1 for the Classic, won all three of her starts for trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni last year, progressing from winning a maiden over 7f to taking the Group 1 Shadwell Fillies' Mile at Newmarket.

Discourse, also trained byAl Zarooni and trading at a similar price for the Guineas, remains unbeaten as well after scoring on her debut in a Newmarket maiden and then winning the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes impressively at the same course last August.

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MONTJEU, the outstanding middle distance racehorse who as a sire produced three Derby winners, has died aged 16 after a short illness, Coolmore Stud announced on Thursday.

Coolmore said the stallion, whose offspring include Epsom heroes Motivator (2005), Authorized (2007) and Pour Moi (2011), had suffered complications from an overwhelming septicaemia.

A statement from Coolmore on Thursday read: "Montjeu, the highest-rated racehorse ever by the great Sadler’s Wells, has died this morning at Coolmore Stud after a short illness, which was due to complications from an overwhelming septicaemia.

"The sire of three Epsom Derby winners including last year's brilliant winner Pour Moi, as well as Camelot, the favourite for this year’s edition, Montjeu was one of the best stallions in the world and in 2011 he sired 15 individual Group/Graded winners in the northern hemisphere, which was the equal of Galileo.

Very sad to hear this news about one of the worlds leading sires.

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SO YOU THINK heads into Saturday's $10 million Dubai World Cup with glowing reports on his condition as he bids to justify favouritism for the Group 1 contest.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, who sent out Cape Blanco to finish fourth in the World Cup 12 months ago, So You Think will be having his first run since finishing sixth behind Drosselmeyer in the Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt at Churchill Downs in November.

The five-year-old was given a favourable draw in stall four - which O'Brien described himself as "very happy" with - and he is as short as 9-4 to take the world's richest race and add to his haul of eight Group 1s and over £4 million in prize-money.

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FRANKEL is to step up his preparation for his much-awaited seasonal return with a racecourse gallop at Newbury in April.

Trainer Sir Henry Cecil is hoping give the world's highest-rated racehorse a gallop at their spring meeting on April 20-21 as part of his build-up for a return to the venue for the Group 1 JLT Lockinge Stakes on May 19.

Frankel is familiar with Newbury, having opened his three-year-old campaign there with a smooth victory in the Greenham Stakes last April before going on to greater things.

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UAE, Saturday

Meydan: Godolphin Mile Sponsored By Etisalat (Group 2) 1m, Tapeta, 3yo+

JOCKEY Frankie Dettori nominated African Story as his best ride on the star-studded card at Meydan on Saturday and his mount did not disappoint as he stormed clear to land the race sponsored by his owners.

African Story took up the running coming into the straight and unleashed a blistering turn of foot to score by more than four lengths from the running-on Viscount Nelson, with the Charlie Hills-trained Red Jazz in third.

Just the start l wanted with the peoples champion riding a very smooth race and coming home and winning very easily.

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THE Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan on Saturday was voided after Fox Hunt broke down in the centre of the track early in the race.

The Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained Fox Hunt was positioned on the outside of the field when he came down a couple of furlongs into the Group 3, sending jockey Silvestre de Sousa crashing to the turf.

The race continued with Makani Bisty leading the field, but it became clear Fox Hunt could not be moved in time as the runners began to complete a circuit and a speedy decision was made to stop the contest.

Thank god the jockey escaped serious injury.

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UAE, Saturday

Meydan: UAE Derby Sponsored by the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (Group 2) 1m1½f, AW, 3yo

AIDEN O'BRIEN landed a first blow on Dubai World Cup night when Daddy Long Legs surged home in the UAE Derby to provide the trainer witha first winner at Meydan.

O'Brien was only denied a one-two in the contest when Yang Tse Kiang denied Wrote on the run for home.

It was Godolphin's Helmet, drawn wide in stall 14, who set the pace to the race.

McEvoy made every effort to get across to the rail at the head of the field and didn't ease off once he got there.

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UAE, Saturday

Meydan: Al Quoz Sprint sponsored by Emirates NBD (Group 1) 5f, turf

ORTENSIA came from last to first under a cool ride from Craig Williams to beat 2010 Nunthorpe winner Sole Power to add to the claims of Australian female sprinters ruling the world.

The low-drawn set the pace, headed by Monsieur Joe, but the held-up pair Ortensia and Sole Power sprinted through late to deny Hong Kong's Grade 1 winner Joy And Fun, who did best of those near the inside rail.

You beauty.

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THE Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan on Saturday, which was stopped after Fox Hunt suffered a fatal injury, will be re-run at the end of the card.

All the runners are expected to take part in the second running of the race which is due off a 7.25pm British time, 45 minutes after the Dubai World Cup.

Meydan officials consulted with connections about the possibility of running theGold Cup again after they decided to stop the field with Fox Hunt down with a broken leg in the centre of the track.

Barbican's trainer Alan Bailey had wanted a re-run and said: "They weren't going any pace whatsoever."

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UAE, Saturday

Meydan: Dubai World Cup Sponsored By Emirates Airline (Group 1) 1m2f, AW, 3yo+

MONTEROSSO led home a memorable Godolphin one-two in the Dubai World Cup as he stormed clear of stablemate Capponi to win the world's richest race in the hands of jockey Mickael Barzalona.

Barzalona was stood high in his stirrups - reminiscent of his victory on Pour Moi in last year's Investec Derby - and he saluted the crowd as the Mahmood Al Zarooni-trained five-year-old approached the winning line.

The success capped a fine training performance from Al Zarooni, who also trained the runner-up. The pair were formerly trained by Mark Johnston.

A great result for this young trainer and the even younger jockey in Barzalona who increasingly looks like the heir apparent to Frankie.

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UAE, Saturday

Meydan: Dubai Sheema Classic Presented By Longines (Group 1) turf, 1m4f, 4yo+

CIRRUS DES AIGLES added another richly endowed Group 1 to hisimpressive haul with a gutsy victory in the Sheema Classic.

Olivier Peslier had to be at the top of his game to keep the Corine Barande-Barbe-trained six-year-old up to his task on the far-side rail as Joseph O'Brien sliced through the pack to lay down a sustained challenge on St Nicholas Abbey.


On his first ride on the 11-4 winner, Peslier rode a tactically astute race at the sharp end of affairs, committing his mount early before holding off the fast-finishing Ballydoyle hope by a neck.

Not bad for this very small trainer winning one of the worlds richest races.

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UAE, Saturday

Meydan: Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored By Al Tayer Motors (Group 3) 2m, turf, 3yo+

OPINION POLL capped a fine evening for Godolphin after he landed the rescheduled Dubai Gold Cup under Frankie Dettori.

Officials moved the race to the end of the World Cup card following Fox Hunt's fatal injury when the event was first staged earlier in the day.

But the re-run was also marred by death. Bronze Cannon, trainedby Herman Brown, pulled-up and had to put down following a leg injury. Grand Vent, owned by Godolphin, was also pulled-up.

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UAE, Saturday

Meydan: Dubai Duty Free (Group 1) 1m1f, 3yo+

JAMES DOYLE punched the air in celebration as he crossed the line well clear of his rivals on Cityscape to post a first Group 1 of his career.

The Roger Charlton-trained six-year-old came home in splendid isolation to gain a well-deserved first win at the highest level after a series of solid efforts in defeat last year.


Doyle, who has enjoyed a successful spell in Dubai over the winter, only came in for the ride after regular rider Steve Drowne was prevented from riding for at least a month after suffering from dizzy spells earlier in the week.

A brilliant win and well deserved for this British trainer.

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UAE, Saturday

Meydan: Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News (Group 1) 6f, AW

ROCKET MAN was denied back-to-back wins in the Golden Shaheen by the Kieren Fallon-partnered Krypton Factor.

Last year's winner disputed the lead withearly pacesetter Giant Ryan and was clear of rivals turning for home.

But the pace had been strong and as Rocket Man's boosters began to fade Krypton Factor, trained by Bahrain-based Fawzi Nass, was well-placed to take advantage and he sprinted clear to score

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Doncaster, Saturday

William Hill Lincoln (Heritage Handicap) 1m str, 4yo+

BRAE HILL just saw off the late challenge of Mull Of Killough to give Richard Fahey a first win in the Lincoln.

The six-year-old, who finished second in thisrace last year, went one better as he scored by a short head at odds of 25-1.

Mull Of Killough, who was having his second start since leaving Fahey, returned at 10-1, a length in front of Fury with Edinburgh Knight finishing fourth. Favourite Eton Forever was fifth.

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Doncaster, Saturday

William Hill Spring Mile (Handicap, Class 3) 1m 4yo+

NORSE BLUES sprang a shock when winning the first race of the turf Flat season, the William Hill Spring Mile, at odds of 50-1.

Trained by Sylvester Kirk and ridden by Lee Newman, Norse Blues was always prominent in the 22-runner field and asserted inside the final furlong from Kyllachy Star, who pipped Mont Ras, another who raced prominently for a long way, for second.

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MONTEROSSO could bid for another big international prize on May 20 after Godolphin's racing manager Simon Crisford said the Singapore Airlines International Cup was under consideration for the Dubai World Cup winner and runner-up Capponi.

The five-year-old provided Godolphin and trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni with a memorable one-two in the $10million Dubai World Cup on Saturday and Crisford said on Sunday morning: "Both horses have come out of the race fine and we're delighted about that.

"They're in quarantine now and will come back to England but one option is running in Singapore before all of the big races in Europe after that."

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SIR HENRY CECIL has mapped out a plan for Frankel, officially rated the world's best Flat horse, which will include a step up in trip to 1m2f, but is unlikely to feature a trip to the States for the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year.

Cecil, who trains the brilliant Galileo colt for Khalid Abdullah, attended a press conference at Sandown on Monday in which he confirmed the JLT Lockinge Stakes over 1m at Newbury on May 19 as the starting point for the horse who lit up last year's Flat season.

Frankel's final appearance would likely be the Qipco Champion Stakes or the same day's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in October, with Cecil not convinced about the Breeders' Cup.

Its a shame that this brilliant horse is highly unlikely to run in America.

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MOST IMPROVED was on Tuesday cut to as short as 9-2 second favourite behind Camelot for next month's Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, as the ante-post plunge on the Brian Meehan-trained colt gathered pace.

Most Improved, who finished a close third behind Parish Hall in the Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes last October, could be widely backed at 7-1 last weekend, having been as big as 20-1 just over a fortnight ago, but his odds for the first Classic of the new campaign have tumbled, with most bookmakers reporting significant support.

Coral cut Most Improved's odds to 9-2 (from 6) after reporting sustained interest in Iraj Parvizi's colt.

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SUPERSTAR colt Frankel could face a stellar line-up when he makes his eagerly anticipated return to action at Newbury next month.

The five-time Group 1 winner is set to line-up in the JLT Lockinge Stakes on May 19 where he will be trying to stretch his unbeaten record to ten.

However the likely presence of last season's runaway 2,000 Guineas winner has not scared off potential rivals with a whole host of big names featuring among the 20 entries.

Excelebration, who finished second behind Frankel on his final start of last season in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes could have a first start for Aidan O'Brien in the race. So You Think is another eyecatching name among the O'Brien-trained entries.

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BIG BUCK'S will attempt to win his 17th consecutive race when he lines up in the BGC Partners Liverpool Hurdle next Thursdaywith his owner Andy Stewart confident that his star can maintain his winning run.

Winner of the past four Labrokes World Hurdle's, Big Buck's is likely to be joined by Celestial Halo, also owned by Stewart, in the Liverpool Hurdle as he looks to defend his unbeaten record at Aintree.

"Big Buck's has been absolutely fine," Stewart said. "Obviously he had a race at Cheltenham as they all did, but there have been no problems at all.

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A £1 MILLION carrot has been dangled in front of the connections of Frankel and Black Caviar in an attempt to bring the world's two highest-rated horses together in the Qipco Sussex Stakes.

Won last year by Frankel, the 1m Sussex Stakes has a prize fund of £300,000 and the increasingly influential Sheikh Fahad, who sponsors the race, has promised to inject a further £700,000 into the pot if the two unbeaten stars line up at Goodwood on August 1.

The prospects of Frankel and Black Caviar clashing are likely to be determined by the programmes the pair are set, with a 1m2f campaign the idea for Frankel while Black Caviar is yet to race beyond 7f.

Mouthwatering if it happens.

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BREEDERS' CUP Turf one-two St Nicholas Abbey and Sea Moon could clash again at Epsom in the Diamond Jubilee Coronation Cup on June 2.

The pair were on Wednesday among 30 entries for the Investec-sponsored Group 1, in which St Nicholas Abbey produced a storming performance last year to nail Midday.

St Nicholas Abbey finished runner-up to Cirrus Des Aigles - also entered for the Coronation Cup - in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan last weekend, but Sea Moon has not raced since Churchill Downs last November.

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PAUL HANAGAN notched a double at the Stobart Lesters when he was presented with the Flat Jockey of the Year award and the Racing Post Flat Ride of the Year honour at the annual ceremony in Birmingham on Thursday night.

Hanagan, who will bid for a third successive title this year, landed both awards for which he was nominated, taking his tally of Lester wins to seven. He picked up the ride of the year award for his successon Barefoot Lady in the Nell Gwyn last April, voted for by racingpost.com users.

The bash, which celebrates the achievements of jockeys from Britain and overseas, took place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole in front of over 450 sporting stars, celebrities and guests.

It could not happen to a nicer guy then Paul.

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AKEED MOFEED has been inserted as the second favourite for the Investec Derby after he was supplemented for the race on Thursday and can be backed at a general 12-1 or 14-1.

Of the four other supplementary entries, at a cost of £8,000, Mandaean, Swedish Sailor and Kesampour are 25-1, while Main Sequence is a 66-1 shot.

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France, Thursday


Maisons-Laffitte: Prix Djebel (Group 3) 7f, 3yo colts and geldings

FRENCH FIFTEEN (Nicolas Clement/Olivier Peslier) showcased his credentials for the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas when he landed the Prix Djebel on Thursday.

A Group 1 scorer in the Criterium International last year, French Fifteen was given a patient ride by Peslier and despite looking a bit green after quickening he held Abtaal, who finished three lengths clear of him in a Group 3 at Saint-Cloud in October.

The winner, who races in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, was halved to 10-1 by Coral for the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 5 and that is Clement's number-onetarget.

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France, Thursday

Maisons-Laffitte: Prix Imprudence (Group 3) 7f, 3yo fillies

MASHOORA, under a confident ride by Christophe Soumillon, put this Group 3 to bed in a matter of strides just over a furlong out before easing right down to beat the badly hampered Belle De Lune by a fast-diminishing neck.

The field were led through the early stages by Misedargent but with three furlongs left to run it was apparent Soumillon was very confident and travelling strongly.


He finally let the filly down in the final two furlongs and she quickened clear impressively, though Belle De Lune, the only horse travelling in a manner to suggest she could pose a threat, was caught in a pocket behind tiring horses and was denied a run.

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TRAINER John Gosden is hoping to give his Qipco 2,000 Guineas contender Fencing atrial for the first Classic of the season in the Group 3 Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes at Newmarket on April 19.