Declan Carroll putting faith in Langholm to fill void left by Santry

4.10 Doncaster
United Brocklesby Stakes | 5f | 2yo | ATR

Langholm has some big shoes to fill in the Unibet Brocklesby Stakes and trainer Declan Carroll is under no illusion that is unlikely to happen in the near future.

Remembering his ill-fated Santry, winner of division one of the race last year, Carroll said: "Langholm is a nice horse and I'm looking forward to running him but he's no Santry.

"It's hard to find one like Santry – he was top class and I doubt I'll have another like him. But Langholm seems to know his job and I think he'll handle the soft ground."

Of the Brocklesby field, Langholm fetched the biggest bill at the sales, changing hands for €100,000, and is a January foal, making him one of the oldest in the line-up.

Santry, winner of his first two races, broke a leg on the gallops preparing to run in the Gimcrack last August after finishing second in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot.

Richard Fahey won division two of the race last year with Requinto Dawn and is another Yorkshire trainer who has been battling the snow this month ahead of sending out Weatherbys Super Sprint entry Wasntexpectingthat as a two-year-old scout for his army of juveniles.

Fahey said of the Foxwedge colt, owned by a partnership that calls itself The Good Bad Ugly and Deaf: "He's fine fitness-wise and has done everything well at home, but it's been tough with the weather the last few weeks.

"If the ones he’s been working with are all right then he’ll run very well as he’s been shaping nicely."

Bill Turner is looking for a seventh win in the race, with three of them having come in the last ten runnings, with subsequent Listed Ascot winner Mick's Yer Man the most recent in 2013 before going to Hong Kong, where he won at Sha Tin this month as Always Win.

This year the Somerset trainer runs Arthur's Spirit and has booked Luke Morris, who has yet to win the race but has ridden three winners from 30 rides for Turner in the last five years.

Eviya Rose is a rarity in the Brocklesby in that she has run already, having a forgettable trip to France a week ago.

Not only did the daughter of Evasive have to run in a snow blizzard, but her trainer George Baker also reported early excuses.

"We fancied her to run well but her run can genuinely be ignored," he said. "The horse beside her in the stalls unshipped her jockey and Eviya Rose jinked and her jockey did well to stay on. That was game over and she wandered home.

"I don't know whether that stands her in good stead for this, but she came out of the experience well so we are going again."

Read stable tours from top trainers as they share insight for the Flat season - exclusive to readers of the daily newspaper and subscribers to Members' Club Ultimate. Join here