Trueshan poised to start rolling again at Nottingham

April 10

It’s all systems go for Trueshan to get his 2023 season rolling in the Listed Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham on Wednesday.

Trueshan won this race 12 months ago, and, though Britain’s driest summer for several decades caused the rest of the season to be a series of “yes, no” intervals as, plagued by firm ground, he was a late withdrawal from three of his subsequent targets, the Gold Cup and Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Lonsdale Cup at York, it was a long way from being a disaster.

Success under a welter burden in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle was followed by brave efforts in the Goodwood and Doncaster Cup before Trueshan dug deep to land back-to-back victories in the Long Distance Stayers Cup at Ascot on Champions Day.

This year’s renewal at Colwick Park certainly won’t be a pushover for Trueshan, who has to give 7lb to Mojo Star, the Derby and Gold Cup runner-up.

Mojo Star has not run for 300 days, but Trueshan’s official rating is only 5lb higher than Richard Hannon’s horse, so Alan is well aware that, while this is a stepping-stone to bigger things down the line, our champion stayer will need to be close to peak fitness to start the new season with a win.

Hollie Doyle, who obviously rides Trueshan again, also teams up with Alan for Dawn Vega in the mile and a quarter handicap.

Like Trueshan, Dawn Vega will enjoy the ease in the ground, having run his best race yet when third in the mud at Newmarket last back-end.

Dawn Vega was gelded during the winter, and he did nothing wrong when a pleasing third on his reappearance at Chelmsford last month and should now be that bit sharper.

Our other Nottingham runner is Ravigill in the extended mile handicap. Underfoot conditions were similar to those the filly will encounter here when she stepped up on previous efforts to be a staying on third over this course last back-end. Rossa Ryan rides.