Million pound Easter Egg

This is the first time there has ever been racing on a Good Friday in the U.K. and the all-weather card at Lingfield, with a million pounds in prize-money, has certainly attracted some competitive fields, while there is also good flat racing in Musselburgh.

Most of the runners at Lingfield have already met this year, owing to the system of qualifying races, and this is also true of the main feature, the Easter Classic over 10 furlongs at 18.20 CET. Grandeur (Jeremy Noseda/ Ryan Moore) is expected to start favourite, despite flopping badly in the main trial, which was won by Robin Hoods Bay (Ed Vaughan/ Luke Morris), with Aussie Reigns (Will Knight) third and Dick Doughtywylie (John Gosden/ William Buick) fourth. Grandeur has obvious claims on his previous form, as he has been running in top company, but in view of the fantastic stable form we shall take a chance on Dick Doughtywylie.

The previous 5 races are all worth 150,000 GBP, i.e. much more than most group races. although they are in the main not up to group class. Noseda and Moore have another good chance in the sprint race at 17.05 with Valbchek, who has won both his starts here; the dangers are Stepper Point (William Muir/ Martin Dwyer), who would win this at 5 furlongs, but is less effective at today´s 6, and Hawkeyethenoo (Jim Goldie/ Graham Lee), who won the Stewards Cup in 2012 and also has a good record here.

We have not forgotten how Highland Knight (Andrew Balding/ David Probert) won the Oettingen-Rennen at Baden-Baden in 2012, and we fancy him in the mile race at17.40. He was well beaten here in a handicap behind George Guru (Mike Attwater/ Robert Havlin) last time, but meets him on much better terms now. Grey Mirage (Marco Botti/ Moore) and Anaconda (Tom Dascombe/ Richard Kingscote) look the main dangers.

Fashion Line (Jamie Spencer) could be another winner for Botti in the fillies and mares race over 7 furlongs at 15.20, while Litigant (Seamus Durack/ George Baker) should take the marathon over just short of 2 miles at 16.30.

Potentially the best horse running today is Ertijaal (William Hagggas/ Paul Hanagan) in the 3yo race over 7 furlongs at 15.55. He defeated several of these in the main trial, and although that was quite a close thing, we expect him to confirm the form.