Winter Derby rematch as Master The World takes on Mr Owen again at Lingfield
After a stewards enquiry changed the result of the Winter Derby, Master The World and Mr Owen will renew their rivalry on Lingfield's valuable Good Friday card, although controversy continues after Phil McEntee's prolific all-weather winner Spare Parts was balloted out of the apprentice riders' handicap.
MASTER THE WORLD will face a Winter Derby rematch with Mr Owen in the Betway Easter Classic All-Weather Middle Distance Championships Conditions Stakes at Lingfield.
Friday's All-Weather Championships plays host to another instalment in the rivalry after Mr Owen crossed the line first in the Winter Derby but was found to have interfered with David Elsworth's grey, who was subsequently awarded the race.
The pair are in a field of 10 for the feature race, while William Haggas, hot off the heels of his record-equalling fourth Lincoln success, runs Second Thought in the Mile race on Lingfield's valuable card.
Previous winner Captain Joy and Tom Dascombe's Arcanada are other star names in the final of the Mile.
Archie Watson's Corinthia Knight is being talked about as a potential Commonwealth Cup horse and he looks the one to beat in the three-year-old final over six furlongs, while Hugo Palmer has a strong hand in the Sprint with both Gulliver and Gifted Master running in a classy nine-runner field.
Diagnostic and Summer Icon are among the star names in the Fillies' And Mares' race, with Red Verdon and Watersmeet two of nine in the Marathon.
Lingfield's big card has suffered some negative press after Phil McEntee's Spare Parts was controversially denied the chance to run in the apprentice riders' handicap that opens the card because of an entry conditions by the Arena Racing Company, who runs the championships.
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As the apprentice contest does not form part of the actual All-Weather Championships itself, horses who have not been running through the winter can contest the race - a situation which McEntee admits "leaves a bitter taste".
"It's very frustrating, especially when three of them haven't set foot on the all-weather all winter and another three have only had one run apiece," said McEntee.
"Clearly these trainers are using this race as a prep run for something on the turf and that leaves a really bitter taste.
Templegate's Treble
NAP 4.15 Wincanton - Invicta Lake: 'Finished second at Kempton two weeks ago and races off the same mark here'
NEXT BEST 3.15 Warwick - Militarian: 'Made an eyecatching chase debut at Market Rasen and the trip and ground should hold no fears'
TREBLE 4.00 Wolverhampton - Sotomayor: 'Saw off Dream Malfunction at Lingfield last month and a 5lb rise shouldn't stop him here'
"I kept hoping we might sneak in, but we haven't. I don't blame connections, clearly the entry conditions are the problem."
Spare Parts will run in the final of the Mile, although his chance is considered unrealistic by the trainer.
His horse and Captain Lars, who runs at Newcastle on Friday, are currently locked together in the battle to be crowned the all-weather's winning most horse, a title which carries a £10,000 prize.
Both horses have won seven races and secured an identical amount of placings.
