This Weekend on Sky Sports Racing: Newbury Hosts Spring Trials

The Spring Trials weekend at Newbury gets underway with a thrilling feature race, as Shabab Al Ahli takes on Sahara King in the Darley EBF Novice Stakes. Charlie Appleby's Southwell winner Shabab Al Ahli is set to make a strong impression, having earned a 33-1 quote for the Derby after a convincing win under Conor Planas in February. The Frankel colt will be looking to assert his dominance over the field, potentially paving the way for a future tilt at the Epsom Classic. Meanwhile, Sahara King is expected to put up a good fight, having won on debut at Wolverhampton in November, with the form of that race gaining substance after Mohaaraj's subsequent success. My Love Is King, trained by Gosden, will also be one to watch, holding a Derby entry and currently priced at 40-1 after a comfortable win at Newcastle in November. In other action, the classy Gilded Prize will be vying for top honors in the Henri Matisse Coolmore Prix Cleopatre, en route to the Prix de Diane at Chantilly. This impressive daughter of Frankel has only run twice but has already made a significant impact, with her career beginning with a straightforward success on the polytrack before stretching clear of her rivals under Colin Keane on reappearance last month. Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard will be hoping to have unearthed another gem, following an incredible season last year. The owners' European Racing Manager Barry Mahon has expressed excitement about Gilded Prize, suggesting that a successful run today could lead to a start at Chantilly over the Epsom Oaks. Turbulente and Arkansas will provide stiff opposition, with the latter having won in Listed company last time out. The 2.32pm Bridget 'Confined' Maiden Fillies' Stakes at Newbury promises to be an exciting affair, featuring some exceptional pedigrees, including Synchronicity, a full-sister to the impressive Ombudsman, and Sapphire Secret, a Kingman filly out of Whatami. The Harry Charlton yard will be represented by Juddmonte-owned Sapphire Secret, while Shadwell will be flying the flag with the Gosden-trained Seet, a half-sister to reigning champion filly Kalpana. William Haggas, who has won three of the last five renewals of this race, will be looking to continue his successful streak with Song Of The Clouds, a daughter of Night Of Thunder related to Group 3 winner Mighty Ulysses. Time Lock's full sister Take A View will make her debut in the Dreweatts Maiden Fillies' Stakes over ten furlongs, facing a field of other promising types, including Allaire, who could be the one to beat for the formidable combination of Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding. At Bath, Jack Morland's Hunky Dory will shoulder a 5lb penalty in the MJ Church Handicap after an impressive win at Wolverhampton, tackling the minimum distance of five furlongs for the first time.