News Royal runner Light Music takes Chartwell test at Lingfield

Royal runner Light Music takes Chartwell test at Lingfield

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Light Music is expected to benefit from the run when making her seasonal reappearance in the Betfred "Be Part Of The Action" Chartwell Fillies' Stakes at Lingfield on Saturday.

The William Haggas-trained three-year-old, one of two runners in the race for The Queen, is to take her first venture into Pattern company when contesting the seven-furlong Group Three event.

Although finding 1000 Guineas fifth Nathra too good for on her debut at Salisbury last term, the daughter of Elusive Quality went one better on her two subsequent starts, culminating with victory in the Radley Stakes at Newbury.

The Queen's racing manager John Warren said: "Light Music runs in the Chartwell Stakes on Saturday and we are glad to get her back on track.

"We are about to find out where she is. She has developed from two to three which is positive and the trainer is very happy with her.

"She has come to hand late this spring and whatever she does first time out, I am sure she will build on it on her next start."

Also running in the royal silks is the Andrew Balding-trained Make Fast, who after pushing Light Music close at Newbury, failed to replicate that form on her final start in a Listed event in Italy in November.

Balding said: "Ideally we wanted to start her off on the grass, but it is what it is. She disappointed in Italy as it was unseasonably fast ground that day and she didn't really enjoy it.

"There isn't very much of her, but she has got a big heart and on her second in the Radley Stakes she has shown that she has got plenty of ability."

Charlie McBride feels a line can be drawn through Squash's effort on her last Lingfield visit in March and she can build on her encouraging second in the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket last month by finally adding to her Wolverhampton maiden success.

The Newmarket handler said: "She has been working well and I think she should run well again. My son Sean rides her out all the time and he says that she is in great form.

"She wasn't in the Guineas and instead of going to Ireland for the Athasi Stakes, which we would have had to supplement her for, this looked a good option.

"She won her maiden at Wolverhampton and there is no reason why she shouldn't go on it (Polytrack) at Lingfield.

"We were a bit disappointed last time she ran at the track but she got struck into as she clipped heels with another horse."

While Volunteer Point has been kept busy through the winter, trainer Mick Channon insists her busy spell is yet to catch up with her as she bids to follow up her success in the fillies' and mares' event over course and distance on her last start at the track on All Weather Championships Finals day.

Channon said: "She still appears to be in great form considering she has been on the go for a long time. She has come out of her last race at Goodwood last Saturday very well and I am delighted with her. She is as tough as old boots.

"We don't do a lot with her at home, we just try to keep her fresh."

Although Quality Time had no answer to Marenko in a tactical conditions contest at Kempton last time out, trainer Saeed bin Suroor believes a more generous pace would help the daughter of Exceed And Excel get back on track.

He said: "Some of my horses are improving for the run. She looks better than last time and is doing well at home. So far I am happy with her.

"I think she will have a better chance in this race than her first one with the better pace."

Although the switch up from five to seven furlongs may seem a strange move, connections of the Mark Johnston-trained Rah Rah are confident it should not pose any problems.

Charlie Johnston, the trainer's son and assistant, said: "It is a bit unusual jumping a horse up from five to seven furlongs, but if you watch her race at Wolverhampton, it was the most bizarre race you will see.

"She got a serious injury towards the end of her two-year-old career and she has screws in her cannon bone.

"After two furlongs (at Wolverhampton), we had our head in our hands thinking what are we doing running the horse back as she was tailed off, but then the second half of the race she flew home and won quite comfortably. That is what has given us confidence she will get the seven furlongs.

"If the race would have been over seven furlongs on the straight track on soft ground, then she would probably have gone to Nottingham for the Listed race there on the same day, but we decided to go for this race now it has been transferred to the all weather and hopefully she can prove the decision right."