Gosden hoping for Good Friday with Bowmark

Bowmark bids to live up to the promise of his impressive debut victory when stepping up in class for a red-hot BetMGM Burradon Stakes at Newcastle on Good Friday.

Owned by Lordship Stud – who 25 years ago won the Oaks with the Sir Henry Cecil-trained Love Divine – the son of Kingman excelled over a mile at Kempton in December and is now tried in Listed company, as he makes the first start of what could be an exciting season.

“It’s a hot race – there’s not many runners, but my god they are good,” said joint-trainer John Gosden.

“You don’t normally run a novice there, but I thought the straight mile with the slight uphill in the closing stages will really suit him.

“He’s trained fine at home, but he hasn’t been asked too many big questions yet. I think he will be a mile or mile-and-a-quarter horse, I don’t think he’s a mile-and-a-half horse, but I think we have to get through Friday first and hope it is a Good Friday.”

Bowmark’s rivals include Glittering Legend, whose rise through the ranks saw him beat off some stiff competition at Kempton in a race that often provides stars of the future.

Royal Playwright could continue Andrew Balding’s fine start to the season having made the podium in both the Solario Stakes and Royal Lodge at two.

“It’s on the all-weather, but I don’t think that will be a problem,” said Balding.

“The ground was pretty heavy at Doncaster in the Futurity (when last on his final start at two) so you can’t read much into that, but his previous runs were very good. It’s encouraging the way the three-year-olds are running.”

Karl Burke won this in 2024 with Cuban Tiger and now saddles Nordic Norm, who brings smart course form to the table having beaten the useful-looking Warrant Officer on debut.

There is also a strong Irish challenge, with Adrian Murray’s Titanium Emperor looking a real talent when downing a well-fancied Aidan O’Brien-trained rival on his Dundalk debut.

“He is a nice horse and would go there with a live chance,” said Murray, who won the Easter Classic on this card 12 months ago.

“I think he could end up getting a bit further than a mile, but we do like him.”

Also running for Ireland is Michael O’Callaghan’s Michael Scofield, who has twice impressed when visiting Southwell and has earned his chance to mix it in this grade.

O’Callaghan said: “He’s a horse we’ve always thought would be better in a better class of race and he probably didn’t learn a whole lot with his two wins at Southwell as he made all both times, but it’s nice to drop him into this grade and see where we’re at with him.”