Charlie Johnston's horse, Dear My Friend, aims to continue its successful winter form into the spring by competing in the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap at Newcastle.
The four-year-old has an unbeaten record of four wins on the all-weather surface, including notable victories in the Listed Burradon Stakes and the AWC Mile Trial Handicap. These performances make Dear My Friend a strong contender for the upcoming race, although the top weight and the handicapper's rating pose potential challenges. Nevertheless, the horse's owner, Middleham Park Racing, is confident in its abilities and believes it is the horse to beat.
Another contender in the race is Yann Barberot's Fast Raaj, who has shown promise in French races on all-weather tracks. Clive Cox's Kingdom Come and Andrew Balding's McLean House are also expected to participate, but they face a tough task in defeating Dear My Friend.
Additionally, King Power Racing's Fantastic Fox and Greatgadian, trained by Roger Varian, have displayed good form throughout the winter and are considered strong contenders.
Symbol Of Light, trained by Julie Camacho, seeks redemption after finishing second to Dear My Friend in a previous race. The weight advantage for Symbol Of Light gives it a better chance this time, but Dear My Friend's consistent winning performances make it a formidable opponent.