Hollie Doyle bidding to land Winter Derby after coming out of self-isolation

Hollie Doyle takes her first rides back in Britain after partnering a winner for Willie Mullins in Saudi Arabia last weekend.

Doyle, who steered True Self to success in the Neom Turf Cup, has been self-isolating since returning from Riyadh and is free to ride after passing a Covid-19 test on Thursday.

The jockey bursts back into domestic action with six rides at Lingfield, highlighted by progressive five-year-old Felix in the Betway Winter Derby Stakes (2.40).

Felix arguably brings the best form into the Group 3, having beaten Bangkok at Wolverhampton last month and then finishing a half-length runner-up to Andrew Balding’s horse in the Winter Derby Trial Stakes.

The bookmakers quote Roger Varian’s Father Of Jazz, smooth winner of a 0-90 handicap over course and distance last time, as favourite, but Marco Botti, trainer of Felix and successful in the race five years ago with Grendisar, is hoping they have got it wrong.

“Father Of Jazz was impressive last time and we don’t know which level he can reach,” he said. “But I’m very happy with my horse. He’s been fine since the Winter Derby Trial and everything has gone smoothly.

“Hollie knows him quite well. She’s won twice on him. Hopefully there will be a good pace as Felix is a horse with a turn of foot – he has to be ridden patiently.”

Balding relies on Johnny Drama, who reeled off an all-weather four-timer this winter before the winning run was ended in the Quebec Stakes at Lingfield where he could finish only fifth of eight behind Sangarius.

The trainer said: “Johnny Drama has had a little break since the Quebec Stakes. The concern is that Lingfield probably isn’t his ideal track. We felt he was not quite as good there last time as he had been previously at Kempton and Southwell. But this is the only logical race for him really, so we felt it was worth another go.”

John Gosden bids for a third consecutive Winter Derby victory –Wissahickon (2019) and Dubai Warrior (2020) have landed the last two renewals – with Forest Of Dean, the mount of Rab Havlin.

The five-year-old has relatively few miles on the clock for his age, and finished just a head behind Felix on his latest start.

Moss Gill: on trial for the Al Quoz SprintCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Ed Bethell, who took over the licence from his father James this winter, saddles the probable market leader Moss Gill in the Listed Betway Hever Sprint Stakes (2.05).

Moss Gill landed a York Listed event last July by a short head from Al Raya, and looks the sort of sprinter who could improve with age and develop into a proper Group horse this year.

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Bethell said: “Moss Gill had a nice winter break and is just ready to start back with a view to some bigger targets later in the year. He has an invitation for the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night. If he wins on Saturday, he probably warrants his place in Dubai. I'm very fortunate to have a horse like him in my first season. Mr Van Cutsem has been kind to keep the horse with us.”

Newmarket trainers Robert Cowell and Stuart Williams are both two-handed in the seven-runner speed test.

Cowell’s main hope could be Rocket Action, who contested the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes behind the flying Battaash at Royal Ascot last summer. Doyle rides the five-year-old for the first time.

Stablemate Blue De Vega, the mount of Ray Dawson, enjoyed an outstanding 2020 with four victories in handicaps at Newmarket, Ascot, Sandown and Leicester, his mark soaring from 83 to 102.

Williams is represented by course-and-distance winner Royal Birth and the four-year-old Belle Anglaise.

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3.15 Newcastle: look past Eider mythology to find this year's big-race winner (Members' Club)

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