Winter Derby boost for Lingfield as Lord North is rerouted from Saudi to Surrey

Dual Group 1 winner Lord North will miss an intended trip to Saudi Arabia on Saturday week in favour of a race closer to home, and worth more than £1 million less, in the Group 3 Betway Winter Derby at Lingfield on the same day.

The six-year-old, who has been absent since winning the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan nearly a year ago, had been invited for the $1.5 million (£1,110,000, €1,326,000) Group 3 Neom Cup in Riyadh where he was expected to appear on the same card as his stablemate and reigning Saudi Cup winner Mishriff.

Now the John and Thady Gosden-trained stalwart will make his reappearance in the 1m2f feature at the Surrey track, a £110,000 race which has gone the way of Clarehaven Stables for the last three years, most recently with Forest Of Dean.

Betway Winter Derby (2.05, February 26): full entries and betting

The presence of Lord North, who is 7-4 favourite to land the Winter Derby, will add some glitter to the all-weather contest and it could serve as a launchpad for a return to Dubai.

The Gosdens are more than willing to pass up £1m now with their eyes fixed firmly on having another crack at the $6m (£4,439,910, €5,302,461) Group 1 Dubai Turf the stable won last March.

John Gosden said: "Lord North is fine but he has been off for so long we didn't think sending him all the way to Saudi for his first run in nearly a year was the way forward. The plan is to send Harrovian in his place for the Neom Cup and hopefully Lord North can then head for the Winter Derby."

Lord North: was a Group 2 winner at Meydan last yearCredit: Francois Nel (Getty Images)

If Lord North were to make it back to Dubai World Cup night, he could meet classy filly Saffron Beach, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam.

Winner of the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket last October, the daughter of New Bay also had some high class placed efforts in 2021, including when runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas.

Saffron Beach looked in good condition cantering on Warren Hill on Monday morning and is set for a crucial workout on Wednesday.

The four-year-old is a 10-1 chance for the Dubai Turf. Her trainer said: "We're hoping Saffron Beach gets invited for the Dubai Turf. Hollie Doyle is coming in on Wednesday to ride her in a piece of work and we'll take it from there. She's wintered very well and the track and trip at Meydan should play to her strengths."

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