Today’s racing

Godolphin have an exciting newcomer in Chelmsford’s opening juvenile fillies’ novice contest in the shape of John Gosden-trained Lake Lucerne.

She is out of the Awesome Again mare Round Pond, who was trained by Michael Matz to win the Grade 1 Acorn Stakes as a three-year-old before taking the Breeders’ Cup Distaff the following year.

Her racing career was curtailed by a fracture in her knee in April 2007 and she was subsequently offered at that year’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale, where she was purchased by Godolphin for $5.75 million.

Lake Lucerne is by Darley’s flagship sire Dubawi and is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Long River, plus the winning pair Long Water and Holland Park.

She will face 11 opponents including another Godolphin homebred, the Charlie Appleby-trained Symbol Of Love, and stablemate Indie Angel, who will carry the red, white and blue silks of Cheveley Park Stud.

Warwick’s race of the day is the Actioncoach Lady Godiva Mares’ Novices’ Chase, a Listed contest over 2m4f. The Dan Skelton-trained Maire Banrigh looked exciting when scoring at the course last month over two miles and should relish the extra half mile having won her sole point-to-point outing over three miles.

Her four opponents include Alsa Mix, successful on chasing debut at Bangor for the Alan King stable, and the Noel Williams-trained Sensulano, who romped home by 16 lengths in a beginners’ chase at Fontwell in November.

Taunton and Newcastle also race over jumps today while Wolverhampton stages an all-weather fixture.

Purebred Arabian integration

The BHA has announced, together with the Arabian Racing Organisation, that Purebred Arabian racing will be further integrated into British racing in 2020.

This is to further align the regulatory practices within PA racing with thoroughbred racing and follows approval from British racing’s Executive Committee and the BHA board.

Further scoping work, followed by a phased implementation, will now take place over the next 12-18 months, which will be funded by ARO with help from the Racing Foundation.

The exact scope of changes will be determined in due course and will be subject to consultation with participants and shareholder groups.