3 minute read
The Caltonian bids to continue his stellar campaign in the Boost Your Acca-Fenwa With BetUK Apprentice Handicap (7.15pm) at Newcastle on Saturday, January 27.
The five-year-old has notched five wins and three placed efforts for Linda Perratt since the All-Weather Championships started in mid-October, with his handicap mark rising from 55 to 87.
The Caltonian is chasing his fourth straight victory at Newcastle in less than a month, having taken handicaps over five and six furlongs under regular rider Jonny Peate.
This run of form has propelled him to the top of the ARC's All-Weather Bonus Horse of the Year leaderboard, for which there is a first prize of £100,000.
Perratt said: "The Caltonian has done us proud so far and seems in really good order, so hopefully he can keep it going this weekend.
"He has matured, grown up, and I think running regularly on the all-weather has helped him. He has a big, long stride and the consistency of the surface plays to his strengths.
"I think six furlongs is his optimum distance, although the fact he has the speed for five and stamina for seven is a help, particularly at Newcastle.
"Our aim at the moment is to get him high enough in the ratings for the Sprint on Finals Day. That is a nice pot to go for and we know he loves the track."
Opposition includes Hugo Palmer's Prince Of Zenda , who opened his all-weather account in a six-furlong handicap at Lingfield Park earlier this month.
Rock Opera (Richard Fahey) lines up under a 5lb penalty for his win at Southwell on Tuesday, while Zarzyni (David & Nicola Barron) also makes a quick return after contesting a valuable sprint at Lingfield Park last weekend.
Zu Run (Adrian Nicholls) and Bellagio Man (Antony Brittain) receive a pull in the weights with The Caltonian, having finished second and fourth respectively last time out.
Multiple G3 victor Max Vega (Ralph Beckett) is one of the standouts in the feature Unibet Zero% Mission Handicap (7.30pm) over 12 furlongs at Kempton Park on the same day. The seven-year-old drops down in class after finishing sixth in last month's Listed Wild Flower Stakes.
He is joined at the head of the weights by Cemhaan, who scored impressively over the course and distance in the spring and was third behind Vauban in the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot.
Cemhaan's trainer George Baker also saddles stable debutant Cumulonimbus, the winner of a valuable Racing League handicap at Great Yarmouth on his penultimate outing for Charlie Fellowes.
Teumessias Fox will be looking to justify his BetUK Winter Derby entry for Andrew Balding, while Ian Williams is represented by recent Southwell scorer Oneforthegutter.
In Ireland, promising four-year-old Elegant Man (Adrian Murray) lines up in Friday's extended 10-furlong Dundalk Winter Series Leading Trainer & Jockey Championship Race (5.00pm).
Having made a winning introduction at the track in October, the son of Arrogate found only Rebel's Romance a length and a quarter too strong in the Wild Flower Stakes.
The field also includes Finals Day regulars Freescape (David Marnane) and San Andreas (Joseph O'Brien), who both arrive on the back of a course win.
For more information, please visit https://www.awchampionships.co.uk/
