JOHN and Thady Gosden got off to the perfect start as a training duo yesterday when their first runner under a new joint licence, Regent, went in at Lingfield and the father-and-son partnership will be hopeful of big race success today in the Unibet Lincoln at Doncaster (3:10).

Haqeeqy is the most significant of seven runners for the Gosdens today (runners in Meydan still registered under John Gosden solely) and intriguingly will be ridden by exciting apprentice Benoit de la Sayette, who only had his first winner in December.

The booking of the 18-year-old on today’s big-race favourite at Doncaster is partly one of circumstance with the owner Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum’s retained rider Dane O’Neill stuck in Bahrain due to Covid restrictions, but it is still a significant show of confidence in the young rider.

Remarkably, de la Sayette is the first apprentice on the books at Clarehaven Stables in 29 years. He only rode his first winner in December but has since added eight more wins from just 30 rides. Indeed, so precocious has his progress been, he has been used sparingly in recent weeks, with the aim of preserving the 7lb claim which could look increasingly valuable this turf season.

De la Sayette is a son of former French rider Geoffroy, who moved from France to Newmarket and now works for James Fanshawe. He has unique experience of riding in the pony racing circuits in both Britain and France, having spent numerous summers away in France. That said, his track experience so far has been confined to the all-weather surface and he may be in for an awakening today in the traditional cavalry charge to start of the turf season in Britain.

Haqeeqy has a lovely Lincoln profile – a lightly raced four-year-old who has won at the course and could well be a future group-race performer in here off a mark of 100. As big as 8/1 last weekend, he has been supported into 7/2 favourite for the traditional curtain-raiser feature for the beginning of the flat turf season in Britain.

There were 64 horses left in this race at the confirmation stage on Monday, ensuring a full field of 22 will line up, one of which, Eastern World, has already been in winning action in Meydan this year. His victory in Dubai ensured his place in the race via a 5lb penalty, and he will bid to give Charlie Appleby, James Doyle and Godolphin back-to-back wins in the straight mile contest after the success of Auxerre 12 months ago.

£570,000 Jonbon set for racecourse debut but Henderson on ground watch

ON what is a quiet weekend in between the big spring jumps festivals, the presence of Jonbon, the most expensive point-to-pointer ever bought at £570,000, adds a degree of intrigue.

Douvan’s brother was an impressive 15-length winner of a Dromahane point-to-point for Ellmarie Holden before changing hands for the world-record fee at a special Goffs November point-to-point sale in Yorton Stud, Wales, where he was bought by JP McManus.

He faces eight rivals in the closing bumper at Newbury today (5:45), including two track winners, but Nicky Henderson is more concerned about the ground. Writing in his Unibet blog yesterday, he said: “If you would’ve asked me 24 hours ago I would’ve told you this horse was a non-runner because I don’t want to risk him on ground that is too fast because he has quite a knee action and moves like a horse who will appreciate plenty of give in the ground.

“As it is there has been a bit of rain around and at the moment the intention is to run, but we will still keep an eye on conditions throughout the afternoon. He has done everything we’ve asked of him at home and I am looking forward to seeing what we’ve got.”

Earlier on the Newbury card, the trainers of 15 runners in the EBF BetVictor ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Mares’ Hurdle must be relieved to see no Irish raiders in the contest.

The Mares’ Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham was a rout for Irish trainers, with only Alan King’s The Glancing Queen among the top seven home, finishing fifth, but today’s £35,000 handicap hurdle will be staying at home. The market is headed by Rose Of Arcadia, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned mare who changed hands for £170,000 after winning her point at Tattersalls Farm. She got off the mark at Wincanton last time for Colin Tizzard.

Henderson runs four and while Nico de Boinville rides Lily Pedlar, the Seven Barrows trainer sounded more positive about the chances of Docte Dina, whom James Bowen rides. He said: “She ran a great race to finish second to Fantastic Lady at Doncaster last time and a reproduction of that effort would give her every chance here. Good ground is what she wants and James rides a lot for Mr and Mrs Potter so it makes sense for him to retain the ride.”