Mr Owen will dodge the drift

● Simcock’s charge can atone for Winter Derby frustration

Mr Owen was denied Winter Derby glory in the stewards’ room last month, but compensation awaits in the Betway Easter Classic on All-weather Finals Day at Lingfield.

David Simcock’s charge was first past the post over the same ten-furlong trip he faces here in the Group Three event, but he drifted across the track and was denied first place at the subsequent inquiry.

The reopposing Master The World was the beneficiary that day and while it looked as though he would have gone on to win but for the interference, is should also be remembered Mr Owen would have lost a chunk of ground as he veered across the track.

Either way, there would not have been too much between them at the line and Oisin Murphy should be wise to any wandering from the selection.

Second Thought is hard to oppose in the Sunbets Allweather Mile Championships Conditions Stakes after a decisive success on his return to action at Wolverhampton earlier this month.

He showed an excellent turn of foot to kick away from Summer Icon that day and William Haggas should have him at his peak for this.

Summer Icon lines up in the 32Red All-weather Fillies’ And Mares’ Championships and that second place should stand her in good stead as she is also better than a couple of her closest rivals here.

Corinthia Knight will be all the rage for the 32Red 3 Year Old All-weather Championships, but it could pay to take a chance on Roger Charlton’s upcomer Breathless Times.

Twice an impressive winner already this year, he is clearly making strides and can now make the leap to better company.

Watersmeet has been bossing the staying ranks over the winter months and he can continue that domination in the Betway All-weather Marathon Championships Conditions Stakes while the Sprint title can fall to Gifted Master.

Hugo Palmer’s charge won a fast-track qualifier for the sixfurlong heat back in November and while he has not run since, connections have obviously set their sights on this race from some way out.

Jeremy Noseda has set his sights on a Kentucky Derby bid with Gronkowski and the colt can secure his place at Churchill Downs with victory in the 32Red Burradon Stakes at Newcastle.

The Lonhro colt has won each of his last three starts, with his latest success proving he can still triumph even when the race does not pan out in his favour as that Kempton contest turned into a messy affair.

Despite being forced to race wide on the bend, Gronkowski dug in to repel Court House by three-quarters of a length, surviving the subsequent stewards’ inquiry after drifting across the track, too.

He faces probably his stiffest test yet, but success here should guarantee a place in the “run for the roses”.

Yabass tuned up for Bath’s Dribuild Group Handicap with a decent all-weather effort recently and he can put that prep run to good use on another decent card.

Meanwhile, Cause of Causes will not run in next month’s Grand National, with the horse understood to be carrying an injury.

Last year’s Aintree runner-up struggled at the Cheltenham Festival earlier this month, and was found to be lame.

He was pulled up in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, which was won by stablemate Tiger Roll but trainer Gordon Elliott, who had eight festival winners, was hopeful that the horse would recover in time for the National.

However, a spokesman for owner JP Mcmanus confirmed yesterday that the tenyear-old “definitely won’t run” in the 14 April showpiece.