Loder and Murtagh eye Kempton glory
The Kempton showpiece had a full list of 20 declared but Richard Fahey has since pulled Vintage Premium out, leaving a field of 19.
Bonecrusher tops the weights in the 10st in the mile-and-a-quarter contest with other leading candidates including Trust Rule, Counsel’s Opinion, Norton and November Handicap winner Turbo.
Loder’s five-year-old has been seen three times this year including when eighth in the Littlewoods Bet Direct Lincoln Trial last month.
Today will be the first time Murtagh has ridden the gelding.
Chris Wall’s Counsel’s Opinion notched up a double in competitive events last term before failing to make the frame in the Listed James Seymour Stakes at Newmarket on his final start.
King’s Thought heads into the £40,000 contest on the back of his sixth place in the Konica East Doncaster Shield last month.
The mile-and-a-half trip may have stretched the entire’s stamina on that occasion and today’s distance looks much more suitable on last year’s evidence.
Barry Hills often has his string well forward and four-year-old Trust Rule is sure to have his supporters.
The Selkirk colt was consistent last season with his finest hour coming when inflicting a three-length defeat on Starry Lodge in the Garrowby Rated Stakes at York.
Norton, trained by Terry Mills, has not won since taking the 2002 Royal Hunt Cup but made the frame in several top handicaps last season including the Jubilee Stakes and the Lincoln.
He contested the latter again this season but finished a disappointing 21st after racing prominently through the early stages.
Peter Harris’s Halicardia bids to complete a three-timer when lining up with eight others for the opening turftours.com Masaka Stakes.
The Listed mile contest not only represents a rise in grade for the filly but also a step up in distance with her two victories last year coming over seven furlongs.
Hathrah, second in the May Hill Stakes last September, represents John Dunlop while Barry Hills runs Doncaster maiden winner Spring Surprise.
Frankie Dettori teams up with John Gosden to ride Doctrine with Zerlina and Why Dubai running for Richard Hannon.
Dunlop also looks to have a strong hand in the alanbrazilracing.com Easter Stakes in which he saddles the well-bred Mutahayya.
Soviet Song, Fillies’ Mile winner of 2002, returns to action in the Surrey Herald Snowdrop Fillies’ Stakes.
James Faneshawe’s star four-year-old failed to get her head in front last term but showed herself to be top-drawer material when finishing second to Russian Rhythm in the Coronation Stakes.
