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Haggas hoping Besharah will stay the distance in Darling test

William Haggas is pleased that Saturday's abandoned Newbury fixture has been switched to Chelmsford to allow potential Classic contender Besharah to make her seasonal reappearance in the Betfred TV Fred Darling Stakes.

One of the key early-season trials for the Qipco 1000 Guineas, the Group Three contest looked like being lost until the British Horseracing Authority acted quickly to transfer the entire Newbury card to the country's newest all-weather venue in Essex.

Besharah, who landed the Princess Margaret and the Lowther Stakes last summer before finishing a close third in the Cheveley Park, is out to prove she can stay seven furlongs with a view to tackling a mile for the first time in the first fillies' Classic of the season at Newmarket on May 1.

Haggas said: " These horses are ready to run, so while it's disappointing to lose Newbury, it's great they've made the late switch.

"We're only two weeks and a day away from the 1000 Guineas, so if we'd left it any later, rescheduling wouldn't have been an option.

"She hasn't run on the all-weather before, but it's better to do that than run on heavy ground and it's definitely better than it being abandoned.

"She is very well and while there is a question mark about the trip, she's got a better chance of getting it on the all-weather."

Besharah is the star attraction in an eight-runner field after the race was reopened for declarations.

Richard Hannon fires a twin assault, with Kempton scorer Marenko joined by stable companion Light Up Our World.

Marco Botti did not declare Newmarket maiden winner Aljazzi for Newbury, but had a change of heart after the race was moved.

He said: "We were going to run in the Nell Gwyn at Newmarket earlier in the week, but her scope was not 100 per cent and we said we'd wait a few days.

"She's healthy and well and we would have run at Newbury if the ground had not gone so testing.

"After the race was moved to Chelmsford, we said we'd let her take her chance and we'll see what she can do."

Katie's Diamond, Nassuvian Pearl, Rebel Surge and Veena complete the field.


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