Saturday racing preview: What the trainers say

2.25 Lingfield - William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies' Stakes

Treasure could emerge as another genuine Classic contender for the King and Queen if she can provide trainer Ralph Beckett with a fourth win in the William Hill Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes.

The King and Queen enjoyed a memorable season last year, with Desert Hero striking Royal Ascot gold before finishing third in his bid to become the first horse since Dunfermline in 1977 to carry the royal colours to Classic success in the St Leger at Doncaster. Treasure, bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, looked an exciting prospect when scoring on her racecourse debut at Nottingham in the autumn and returns in a race her trainer has previously landed with Kayah (2007), Secret Gesture (2013) and Honour Bound (2014).

Secret Gesture went on to finish second to stablemate Talent in the Oaks itself and a trip to Epsom will surely loom large for this daughter of Mastercraftsman if she can prove her worth in Surrey this weekend.

John Warren, racing adviser to the King and Queen, said: “Ralph is very happy with Treasure who has the size and scope to be a decent filly. We are on a fact-finding mission – and as she has been prepped specifically for this race we will learn where we stand after this to plan her future.”

Beckett, who won the Cheshire Oaks with Forest Fairy earlier in the week, has a second string to his bow in the form of You Got To Me, who has been off the track since finishing fifth in a Listed race at Newmarket in November.

The likely favourite is the John and Thady Gosden-trained Danielle, who created a huge impression when storming a a 12-length success at Wetherby less than a fortnight ago.However, Gosden senior admits the prospect of drying conditions at Lingfield is a concern.

“The plan is to go to Lingfield with Danielle at the moment and let’s hope that goes well,” he said. “She won well last time, but obviously I hope the ground stays good. If it dries up then I would be concerned about running her on quick ground.”

Aidan O’Brien relies on the twice-raced maiden Rubies Are Red, with Molten Rock (Karl Burke), Cherry Burton (Sean Woods) and Bigtime Bridget (Michael Bell) the other hopefuls.

3.00 Lingfield - William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes

Defiance is among those looking to book their ticket to Epsom in the William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial. A winner on his Sandown debut last summer for trainer Roger Varian, the Camelot colt rounded off his juvenile campaign by finishing sixth behind the high-class Ghostwriter in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket.

He made an encouraging start to his three-year-old season when finishing strongly to fill the runner-up spot behind Bellum Justum in the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom and connections hope he can go one better this weekend to earn himself a tilt at Betfred Derby glory on June 1.

“We were thrilled with him at Epsom, especially as that race really wasn’t run to suit at all,” said Harry Herbert, managing director of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.“There was a very slow pace that day, we wanted him to relax in behind and they quickened from the front and we were on the outside. He still nearly won, so I think he’s run a very good race off a pace that didn’t suit him.He’s in great form according to Roger and I’ve seen him myself, he looks marvellous the horse.”

Herbert admits Saturday’s Listed event is a crucial test for Defiance, with dreams of a Derby bid very much on the line.

He added: “I think he’s come on for that run at Epsom and on Saturday, we’d love to think that he’ll be very competitive. We’ll know afterwards whether we’ll be throwing our cards into the Derby ring or going elsewhere. We want to know, albeit it could be painful, but the worst thing in the world is running a horse in the Derby that shouldn’t be there, so let’s find out.

“Right now I think he’s a live contender. He’s a beautifully balanced horse who has shown he can act around Epsom and he’s going to stay well, so he’s ticking some good boxes, but first of all we’ve got to see if he can win a race like this. If he can, he’ll certainly be lining up at Epsom.”

Defiance is joined at the head of the market by Aidan O’Brien’s pair of The Euphrates and Illinois, who finished second and third respectively in the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown last month.

Illinois was a beaten odds-on favourite that day but Ryan Moore keeps the faith, with Declan McDonogh coming in for the ride on his stablemate as O’Brien chases a seventh win in the race. O’Brien said: “The two of them have been on a pretty similar programme which is why they both started off in the Ballysax. Illinois had the better form at two, but The Euphrates finished in front of him the last day.We think they’ll both get further and they’ve both had a run now, so it is going to be interesting. We’re looking forward to it.”

Karl Burke also fires a twin assault, with Blue Riband Trial fourth Arabic Legend joined by stablemate Imperial Sovereign, who makes his turf debut following two outings on the all-weather.

“They’re two good horses, I think,” said Burke. “Imperial Sovereign will definitely get a mile and a half, I think he’s crying out for it, whereas with Arabic Legend, his pedigree suggests he’s more of a mile-and-a-quarter horse but Sheikh Obaid (owner) is keen to see if he stays a mile and a half.If he doesn’t stay and looks good enough for a French Derby, we could go down that route.”

James Fanshawe is represented by Ambiente Friendly, who steps up in distance after finishing a creditable fourth in Newmarket’s Feilden Stakes.

Fanshawe said: “He ran well at Newmarket, and the Karl Burke horse ahead of him (Caviar Heights) went on and won again at Newmarket last week.The form has worked out well from that, we’ve got a bit to find on some of them but he’s in very good form himself.”

3.35 William Hill Chartwell Fillies' Stakes

Marco Botti can see Great Generation developing into a sprinter rather a miler ahead of her run in the William Hill Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes. She made her reappearance this season in the Prix Imprudence and finished hot on the heels of Ramatuelle and Tamfana, who both ran with great credit in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Botti has a big chance in the French 1000 Guineas on Sunday with Folgaria, who beat Roger Varian’s Elmalka, the subsequent Newmarket winner, in the Fred Darling at Newbury. Great Generation could also be a Guineas contender as she holds an entry for the German edition of the race, but Botti is inclined to think she will develop into a sprinter instead.

“Her run in France now looks very good given Ramatuelle and Tamfana were third and fourth in the Guineas,” he said of the filly. “The question we have is that in our opinion she’s probably going to be better over six or seven furlongs than a mile. Because of that we’ve decided to take a chance in the Chartwell Stakes over seven. She is still entered in the German Guineas, but I don’t know, at the moment my feeling is she could come back to sprinting rather than stepping up, but let’s just see.

“She’s in good form, it will be tough against the older horses but we’re looking forward to it. Her form ties in with Folgaria really given she beat the Guineas winner and Great Generation was just behind the third and fourth in the Guineas.

“It will be tough to beat Remarquee, she had top form in Group Ones last year and looks the big danger, she’s rated 110. We respect the other fillies, but she looks the one to beat.”

Remarquee, trained by Ralph Beckett, won the Fred Darling last term and acquitted herself very well in two Group One events when the runner-up in both the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and Falmouth at Goodwood – finishing second to two top-class horses in Tahiyra and Nashwa.

“We’re looking forward to seeing her run,” said Richard Brown, racing adviser for owners Wathnan Racing. “I’m not sure she should be as short as she is in the betting. I know she is clear on ratings, but seven furlongs around Lingfield might not be absolutely ideal for her. Hopefully her class will tell and she will run a nice race.

“Ralph seems really happy with her and she will come on for the run, which is what you want at this time of the year and we’re looking forward to seeing her back on the track.”

Hugo Palmer’s Stenton Glider finished a neck behind Remarquee in the Fred Darling, after which the fillies were 13th and 15th respectively when underperforming in the 1000 Guineas.

Stenton Glider then went on to finish second in the German Guineas, and was also the runner-up in the Coral Distaff before finishing third in the Group Two Cape Verdi at Meydan in January.

“Our pursuit for her this season is to win a stakes race and she has been placed in so many,” said Palmer. “She has got to take on her old rival Remarquee – we beat her in the 1000 Guineas when we both ran badly that day, but we were second to her in the Fred Darling at Newbury.”

Another notable contender is Roger Varian’s Cell Sa Beela, a good third in the Listed Prix de la Cochere at ParisLongchamp last term and then a winner at the same level when taking the October Stakes at Ascot in the autumn.

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