In-form duo head deep field for BetUK Easter Classic

Oh So Grand and Penzance look to cap stellar seasons as contenders from Britain, France and Ireland clash in the £200,000 BetUK Easter Classic over 10 furlongs, highlight of Finals Day and Europe’s most valuable all-weather race.

There are 84 runners across the seven races at Newcastle on Good Friday, up from 59 in 2023, with an average BHA rating of 94.12 across the card.

Oh So Grand has been the leading middle-distance filly this season, with three consecutive victories for Simon & Ed Crisford culminating with a power-packed display in the BetMGM Winter Oaks at Lingfield Park.

Former Crisford inmate Penzance, now trained by Mick Appleby, has teed himself up for a £75,000 bonus, following AWC Trials Day wins at Newcastle and Lingfield Park. The four-year-old is chasing a fifth straight success, having also twice scored at Chelmsford earlier in the season.

Elegant Man (Adrian Murray), one of three Irish challengers in the field, is another contender with untapped potential after winning twice at Dundalk and finishing second to Rebel’s Romance in the Listed Floodlit Stakes.

French raider Hooking bids to give World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann and trainer Philippe Decouz their first win in the UK, with the eight-year-old arriving on the back of two Listed wins at Cagnes-sur-Mer.

Teumessias Fox has been kept fresh by Andrew Balding since his impressive Kempton Park victory in January, while Storm Catcher receives a 5lb pull with Penzance from their Newcastle clash, in which Simon Pearce’s stable star went down by a short-head.

Royal Ascot G3 victor Claymore heads two contenders for Jane Chapple-Hyam. Claymore finished fourth in the G3 BetUK Winter Derby last month, while stable-mate Blanchland has not raced since coming third in the Listed BetUK Quebec Stakes on December 31.

Freescape, who makes his third consecutive appearance on Finals Day, and Racing League winner Star Harbour are the two other Irish-trained runners for David Marnane and Adrian McGuiness.

Diderot, winner of the Easter Classic consolation race at Lingfield Park last season, lines up for James Ferguson, while Sir Busker’s two best efforts for William Knight this term have come over the track and distance.

Brian Ellison’s Virgin Bet November Handicap victor Onesmoothoperator and Oh So Grand’s stable-mate Base Note, who finished second in this race last year, also run.

Oh So Grand winning at Lingfield Park in December (credit: John Hoy)

The view from connections

Simon Crisford, co-trainer of Oh So Grand and Base Note, said: “Oh So Grand has had a very good winter and remains in good form for this race. She will need to improve again, but we think there is more to come from her. Base Note found life a little tougher in a handicap last time, but he has been working well recently and loves the all-weather.”

Chris Dixon of The Horsewatchers, who own Penzance, said: “It will be his most difficult task so far, but he seems to have improved again from his last run. Ali [Rawlinson] has been riding him at home, as well as on the track, and is very happy with him. It will be a red-hot race given the money and quality of horse on offer. I don’t think he has reached his cap yet, but there are probably other horses who are in the same boat.”

Adrian Murray, trainer of Elegant Man, said: “I think he is a very good horse. There is plenty more to come from him and he should be up to running in Group Three and Group Two races. The track at Newcastle should be no bother to him, as he has been strong at the finish in all his races, and we are expecting a big run.”

Andrew Balding, trainer of Teumessias Fox, said: “He is coming in fresh, which I think is a bonus for him as his record after a break is pretty good. The only issue is that he is very high in the weights now for winning last time, so it won’t be easy.”

Philippe Decouz, trainer of Hooking, said: “Hooking is in top form. The race at Newcastle was a logical choice following his winter program. He doesn’t go on heavy ground and so there is not a race for him in France at the moment. We are hoping there will be pace in the race. This is a first runner in the UK for his owner Antoine Griezmann and also for me. It is a great challenge.”

Jane Chapple-Hyam, trainer of Blanchland and Claymore, said: “We have secured two very good jockeys, with Rossa Ryan on Blanchland and Dylan Browne McMonagle coming over from Joseph O’Brien’s to ride Claymore. I find it hard to split them. I don’t think Claymore did anything wrong by finishing fourth in the Winter Derby – he had good horses in front of him. He is a big unit and has improved again for that race, while Blanchland is coming in fresh. They have both trained well and I can’t fault them.”

Simon Pearce, trainer of Storm Catcher, said: “I am really happy with him. His preparation has been fine and he is ready to go. It looks a good race, but it is a handicap and that gives everyone a chance. We are closer in the weights to Penzance and he only beat us a short-head last time we met. Our fella has been picking up through the season and hopefully he can finish it with the ultimate prize.”

David Marnane, trainer of Freescape, said: “This will be his fourth appearance at Newcastle, as he also ran in the Burradon as a three-year-old. The main difference this time is that we kept him here during the winter rather than Dubai, and I think that works in his favour. I could not be happier with him, and going back up to a mile and a quarter will suit. I am under no illusions, as it looks a very strong race, but he deserves to have a go at a huge pot.”

Brian Ellison, trainer of Onesmoothoperator, said: “He is in great form. We had a couple of options and decided to go for the mile and a quarter race. To be fair, he has been solid and runs well every time. It was a good effort last time at Southwell when they did not go very quick. It is all about the pace of the race for him as he wants a good gallop.”

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