Racing Centre

The Cheka is among 203 acceptors following the first forfeit stage for the inaugural running of the £400,000 Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy, which takes place over 10 furlongs of the NatWest Rowley Mile on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, day one of the two-day Craven Meeting which opens the season at Newmarket.

The race is open to horses that were catalogued in Book One of the 2007 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

The Eve Johnson Houghton-trained Xaar colt made a hugely impressive winning debut  at Ascot in July, scoring by 10 lengths from Pegasus Lad, before finishing runner-up to  Sri Putra in the Group Three Solario Stakes over seven furlongs at Sandown on August 30. in the Group Three Solario Stakes over seven furlongs at Sandown on August 30.

The imposing bay, owned by Anthony Pye-Jeary and comedian Mel Smith, was forced to miss his intended autumn engagements such as the Tattersalls Timeform Million and the Group One Darley Dewhurst Stakes due to a slight setback, but Johnson Houghton has the colt on schedule for a spring campaign.

The Oxfordshire handler revealed today: “Everything is fine with The Cheka. He’s progressing well through the winter and I’m absolutely delighted with him - he has filled out his frame nicely.

“He had a very minor problem after Sandown that just meant I would have had to rush him to get him to a race. He’s too good and is such a big horse that it just was not worth doing that.

“The idea at this stage is to go for the Stan James 2000 Guineas but if at any time we think he wants further than the mile, we have this race as a tempting option. We’re really looking forward to seeing him race as a three-year-old - we think he is a very good horse.”

Johnson Houghton is also responsible for the Marju filly Jewelled Reef, whose last start came in the Watership Down Stud Sales race at Ascot in September., whose last start came in the Watership Down Stud Sales race at Ascot in September.

“We left the filly in the Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy because it didn’t cost us anything but she would have to improve hugely. She has done really well over the winter but she has to improve a lot to even get in the race. We’ll just see how she progresses.”

Among the acceptors for the Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy are the top-flight winners Donativum and Crowded House, first and second respectively in the Tattersalls Timeform Million last October, a race also restricted to horses catalogued in Book One of the 2007 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. and Crowded House, first and second respectively in the Tattersalls Timeform Million last October, a race also restricted to horses catalogued in Book One of the 2007 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf hero Donativum, now with Godolphin having left trainer John Gosden, could once again lock horns with the Brian Meehan-trained Group One Racing Post Trophy victor Crowded House in the ground-breaking race. Crowded House is currently ante-post favourite for the Derby at Epsom.

The Tattersalls Timeform Million was one of the most informative, not to mention high-class, juvenile contests of 2008 and the next four home in that race are also still in the Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy. Third-placed Nasri is another in Meehan’s care, while Gosden is responsible for the fifth horse home, Mafaaz, and Mark Johnston may saddle Liberation, who was the fourth-placed favourite in the lucrative seven-furlong race. Monitor Closely, from the Peter Chapple-Hyam yard, took sixth in the race and subsequently landed the spoils in a Newbury maiden. is another in Meehan’s care, while Gosden is responsible for the fifth horse home, Mafaaz, and Mark Johnston may saddle Liberation, who was the fourth-placed favourite in the lucrative seven-furlong race. Monitor Closely, from the Peter Chapple-Hyam yard, took sixth in the race and subsequently landed the spoils in a Newbury maiden.

Skanky Biscuit, now in the care of Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor, won a Newbury maiden for Meehan last term before taking third in the Group One Racing Post Trophy.

Meehan also has Gallagher among the 17 acceptors in his care. The Sangster family-owned colt was a model of consistency in Pattern company last season, his best effort coming when second to Bushranger in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville in August. among the 17 acceptors in his care. The Sangster family-owned colt was a model of consistency in Pattern company last season, his best effort coming when second to Bushranger in the Group One Prix Morny at Deauville in August.

There are 35 entries from Ireland remaining, including 13 from Aidan O’Brien’s mighty Ballydoyle stable. The O’Brien contingent includes Group Two Futurity Stakes third Grand Ducal and the 1,000,000 guineas colt Yankee Doodle, by Dalakhani out of Bella Lambada. and the 1,000,000 guineas colt Yankee Doodle, by Dalakhani out of Bella Lambada.

Commenting on the acceptors for the inaugural £400,000 Tattersalls Timeform 3YO Trophy, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said: “The number and quality of the remaining entries for the inaugural £400,000 Tattersalls Timeform 3-Y-O Trophy show that this unique race has immediately captured the imagination of owners and trainers.

“To have the likes of current Derby favourite and Group One Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House amongst the leading contenders is a tremendous prospect.” 

Michael Prosser, Newmarket’s Director of Racing, added: “To have over 200 horses - including a host of major players - left in at this stage is magnificent.

“The race has all the makings of a significant addition to our season-opening Craven Meeting.”

The two-day Craven Meeting at Newmarket takes place on Wednesday, April 15, and Thursday, April 16.