Lord North is the star attraction as he kicks off his 2023 marketing campaign within the £100,000 Group Three BetUK Winter Derby at Lingfield on Saturday, reside on Sky Sports activities Racing.

The three-time Group One winner chased residence Alenquer in a top-quality renewal of the 10-furlong contest 12 months in the past, with Lord North subsequently dead-heating with Panthalassa within the Dubai Turf.

Lord North, who heads three runners for John & Thady Gosden, has been sidelined since ending an in depth fourth behind Vadeni within the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown Park in July.

The seven-year-old’s jockey Robert Havlin mentioned: “Lord North appears very well. I’ve ridden him in his final two items of labor and I believe he’s somewhat sharper than he was coming into the race final yr.

“We’re utilizing this as a prep for the Dubai Turf once more however I hope for an actual large run. He simply feels that bit extra switched on than he was this time final yr.

“We took him for an away day at Chelmsford lately. He didn’t gallop however had a pleasant canter round and that can have accomplished him good mentally greater than something.

“He’s a seven-year-old now and could be fairly lazy at residence however his work has actually been a bit brighter. He’s the perfect horse within the race by far and hopefully he can present that.”

The Gosdens have a powerful hand because the steady bids for a fourth victory from the final 5 editions of the race, with Lord North joined by 2021 victor Forest Of Dean and Harrovian.

South African jockey Collen Storey made the headlines after guiding Forest Of Dean to a decisive victory in a Quick-Observe Qualifier at Newcastle in January, a race wherein Harrovian was third.

Storey, who moved to Newmarket in October 2021 having ridden 222 winners in his homeland, mentioned: “Forest Of Dean could be very properly in himself. I sat on him once more this morning and he had a little bit of freshness in him. I truly assume he has come on a bit from Newcastle.

“Rab [Havlin] rode him fairly helpful after they received the Winter Derby a few years in the past, whereas at Newcastle I dropped him in and he flew once I pulled him out. It was spectacular the way in which he quickened up.

“I received a Stakes race in Zimbabwe on a filly known as Raven Lady and have positioned in just a few different Stakes races as properly. It’s laborious to get rides in these large races and I’m very excited for this chance. Optimistically, hopefully we are able to pull it off.

“After I received on Forest Of Dean at Newcastle, I mentioned my purpose is to journey a Group winner over right here. If I may tick that off, I want to see what the yr forward is ready to give me.”

The race is a Quick-Observe Qualifier for the £200,000 Easter Traditional, with the type of final season’s Finals Day spotlight represented by runner-up Tyrrhenian Sea (Roger Varian).

Lucander makes a fast reappearance for George Baker after profitable a neighborhood Group Two in Bahrain final week, whereas Andrew Balding might be hoping a gelding operation can rejuvenate Group Three winner Foxes Tales.

William Knight’s all-weather specialist King Of The South and John Ryan’s Pistoletto full the sector.

Tone The Barone tuned up for Hever check

Elsewhere on the cardboard, prolific sprinter Tone The Barone bids for his tenth all-weather success for Stuart Williams within the Listed BetUK Hever Dash over 5 furlongs.

A aggressive line-up additionally options John Quinn’s quickly bettering filly Miss Nay By no means and David O’Meara’s Alligator Alley, who received three races on the spin earlier within the season.

The Robert Cowell-trained Arecibo, third within the Group Two Temple Stakes final yr, makes his first all-weather look since 2019, whereas Karl Burke’s Exalted Angel has a first-time visor after ending an in depth third within the Listed BetUK Kachy Stakes.

Look Out Louis (Julie Camacho) and final yr’s winner One Evening Stand (Scott Dixon) are different names to notice.