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Chookie Royale justified 7/4 favouritism in fine style when the impressive seven-length winner of the Ladbrokes Conditions Stakes over an extended mile at Wolverhampton today for trainer Keith Dalgleish.
The six-year-old settled nicely in front under Tom Eaves and galloped on relentlessly to record his fourth win from five starts at Wolverhampton. Irish raider Star Links (8/1) won the battle for second, edging out Luhaif (11/2) by a nose.
It was a deserved victory for Chookie Royale, who has filled the runner-up spot in four consecutive starts since scoring at Kempton Park in October.
Dalgleish commented: "Chookie Royale was really impressive today and seems to be progressing nicely. I thought he had a fair chance based on his last run, but I didn't expect him to win quite as easy as that.
"It's the first time we have made the running with him because we were worried that there might not be any pace. I said to Tom that he should go on if there wasn't any and it worked out.
"He has always shown a lot at home and, although he has won the odd race, he was never taking that homework to the track, but he just seems to have clicked now.
"We will probably wait for the Lincoln Trial (Saturday, March 8) back at Wolverhampton and then, all being well, we would love to take our chance on Good Friday (All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield Park)."
Be Perfect made all of the running under an astute ride from Adrian Nicholls to land the 32Red Handicap decisively for trainer Dandy Nicholls and owner Lady O'Reilly.
The five-year-old, a 15/2 chance, set steady fractions in the early stages, but gradually increased the tempo on the final circuit and kicked off the home turn for an emphatic six-length success.
Kashmir Peak, an intended runner in Saturday's Betfair Hurdle, shaped encouragingly in second for John Quinn, while the 4/5 favourite Communicator could never land a blow and finished two lengths further back in third.
Horses qualify for the six championships contests on £1-million All-Weather Championships Finals Day (Good Friday, April 18, 2014) by running in a minimum of three races at Britain's All-Weather tracks - three owned by ARC, Lingfield Park, Southwell and Wolverhampton, and The Jockey Club's Kempton Park - between October 26 and April 12 or else by succeeding in one of the 16 Fast-Track Qualifiers.
