There is a faint scent of the approaching Flat season in the air on Saturday as the Gosdens’ stalwart Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) enjoys his seasonal bow in Lingfield’s G3 BetUK Winter Derby. Not seen since finishing a close fourth in the G1 Eclipse at Sandown in July, the 7-year-old is at the scene of his defeat in this 12 months ago warming up for a third consecutive G1 Dubai Turf.
Robert Havlin will be on board the consistent performer and he said, “Lord North seems really well. I have ridden him in his last two pieces of work and I think he is a little sharper than he was coming into the race last year. We are using this as a prep for the Dubai Turf again but I am hoping for a real big run. He just feels that bit more switched on than he was this time last year. He is the best horse in the race by far and hopefully he can show that.”
Also representing the Gosdens is the 2021 winner Forest Of Dean (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Harrovian (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {GB}) who races for Lord North’s owner HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing. The former will be partnered by South African jockey Collen Storey, while Roger Varian pitches in Flaxman Stables’ 2022 Easter Classic runner-up Tyrrhenian Sea (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}).
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