3 minute read
Ryan Moore is back in British action for the first time this year with five rides at Lingfield Park on Saturday.
Moore resumes his association with th e Jeremy Noseda-trained Grandeur in the coral.co.uk Winter Derby Trial Stakes, a race the same partnership claimed 12 months ago.
The mile-and-a-quarter contest is a fast-track qualifier for the £200,000 Coral Easter Classic over the same course and distance, which the six-year-old landed on Good Friday last year.
The Shalfleet handler told his website: "Grandeur had a break at the end of last year and it was always the plan with him to follow the same early-season campaign as he had in 2014.
"He is ready to go, in good order. I am hopeful he can put in a good start to his 2015 campaign."
Grandeur, who has his first start since October, takes on seven rivals, including the Tony Coyle-trained Ansaab .
Coyle said: "Ansaab is fit and he is well. He has a lot to do at the weights, but some of the others might be just needing a run to get ready for the Winter Derby.
"He is ready to rock and roll and if we are ever going to have a chance of competing with these horses, Saturday will be the day.
"He only has to find 5lb or 6lb to be very competitive, so we decided to take a chance. We want to run him on Good Friday and he needs to go up in the ratings to make sure of that.
"He won't disgrace us and he loves Lingfield. We just keep him fresh - he looks well. He does not do a lot in front, just enough to win.
"Ansaab is an absolute gent, you would not even know he was around the place, a lovely horse. I will be delighted if he finishes in the first four."
A dual John Gosden raid features the Godolphin-owned Maverick Wave and Lady Rothschild's Cloudscape.
The other fast-track qualifier on the card is the £45,000 Unibet Cleves Stakes over six furlongs, in which Moore rides Go Far for Alan Bailey.
Go Far was returning from a three-month break when flashing home to take fourth, beaten less than a length, behind stablemate Baddilini at the track earlier this month, having completed a three-timer when beating Foxtrot Romeo at Wolverhampton last September.
Bailey said: "Go Far was a little bit ring-rusty last time. It took him a while to get going, but he flew home and could have possibly won.
"He is very well in himself and has definitely come on for that. It is a step up in class, but I'm hopeful of a big run. It is good to have Ryan Moore on board as well. You can't get any better."