English/Ire
Richie’s Rocket looking to blast away Spring Cup rivals
Ralph Beckett’s exciting Richie’s Rocket will look to take the step up to Listed company in his stride when he takes on seven rivals in the BetMGM Spring Cup at Lingfield on Saturday.
The New Bay colt shaped with plenty of promise when third on his debut at Newmarket towards the back end of last season, but it was his nine-length reappearance strike at Lingfield in November that really caught the eye.
Returning to the same course and distance as his latest success, Ralph Beckett's charge, who will break from stall six under Hector Crouch, will look to add his name to the ever-growing list of talented performers to have won this prize, with the likes of multiple Group 1 hero Paco Boy and high-class sprinter Ertijaal just two to note.
"Richie's Rocket has trained well all winter," said Beckett. "He obviously showed a liking for the place when winning his novice, so we felt it made sense to bring him back here.
"We are looking forward to getting him started."
Richard Hughes knows exactly what it takes to land the contest having ridden the aforementioned Paco Boy to success and the handler will be hoping he can emulate the feat as a trainer courtesy of Bella Lyra.
Last seen finishing runner-up in a valuable conditions event at Baden-Baden in October, Bella Lyra has some proven black-type form to her name having collected the bronze medal in both the Listed Empress Stakes at Newmarket and Ascot's Group 3 Princess Margaret Stakes.
Hughes said: "We are really pleased with Bella Lyra, who is going well at home. She has a good draw in stall two and is one of the higher-rated runners in the race, which always helps.
"She has done nothing wrong in her career so far. We have her ready for this, while I think she will enjoy racing on the all-weather.
"I think she might get a mile this year and the German 1,000 Guineas is a race we have earmarked for her."
The 101-rated Sir Albert adds further depth for the in-form Andrew Balding team, while Jamie Osborne's ultra-progressive Ten Carat Harry will look to land a seventh straight contest and Hilitany, seventh in last year's Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, makes his return to these shores following some respectable performances in the Middle East.
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