Accomplished stayer Prydwen heads the field at Southwell on Friday, December 12, as the seven-year-old faces eight rivals in the feature extended two-mile handicap scheduled for 7.30pm.
Prydwen enjoyed an excellent 2024 campaign, winning the Marathon Final—to be renamed the Easter Plate next year—before travelling to Germany to land the G3 German St Leger at Dortmund. He later went close in the Watergate Cup Heritage Handicap at Chester in September, only to be caught in the final strides after a strong ride from Darragh Keenan.
Trained by George Scott, Prydwen makes his second appearance of the current All-Weather Championships following an eighth-place finish over two miles at Kempton Park in October. Scott reports the gelding in good order ahead of his return to Southwell, where he won a competitive race last season off a 3lb higher mark.
“Prydwen has been a star for us over the years and, although there comes a point when they look a bit long in the tooth, he is ready to go,” Scott said. “At his age he has to keep proving himself, and he did that at Chester when he was unfortunate to be caught on the line. Horses can be harder to read at home as they get older, but he’s giving me the right signs and he likes Southwell. If he remains in good form, the plan is to keep him going with the aim of qualifying again for Finals Day.”
Prydwen concedes weight to every runner in a line-up full of established performers. Among the key dangers is Enemy, winner of the Winter Derby Trial at this course in 2024 and runner-up in the G3 Red Sea Turf Handicap in Saudi Arabia. Connections also field Oneforthegutter, successful in a heritage handicap at Newmarket’s July Festival earlier this year.
Further interest comes from Charging Thunder, who has produced several strong all-weather displays for James Owen, including a third in the Northumberland Plate and a Racing League victory at Wolverhampton.
Wise Eagle, trained by Adam Nicol, returns after wind surgery, having previously finished runner-up to Roaring Legend at Newcastle’s AWC Trials Day.
The field also includes Chemistry, a Listed winner of the Vinnie Roe Stakes for Aidan O’Brien last year, although he has yet to recapture that form in two starts for Ivan Furtado. Blazeon Five, representing Alan King, bids for a hat-trick after wins at Ascot and Nottingham. Course winners Sax Appeal for Charlie Johnston and Alrazeen for Gay Kelleway also take their chance.
Elsewhere, last season’s Mile Final victor Storm Star returns for Andrew Balding in a seven-furlong handicap at Newcastle on Saturday, December 13. His opposition includes Houquetot, a G3 scorer making his first start for David O’Meara, as well as the Geoff Oldroyd pair Doctor Khan Junior and Pocklington.
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