Listed winners Shouldvebeenaring and Alpha Capture lock horns again in the Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Conditions Stakes (3.20pm) at Kempton Park on Monday, January 23.
The six-furlong contest is a Fast-Track Qualifier for the £150,000 All-Weather Three-Year-Old Championships at Newcastle on Good Friday.
Trained by Richard Hannon and William Haggas respectively, Shouldvebeenaring and Alpha Capture met in the opening Fast-Track Qualifier at Newcastle in October, when they filled the places behind impressive winner Never Just A Dream.
The duo had previously enjoyed successful campaigns on turf, with Shouldvebeenaring winning a valuable sales race at the Ebor Festival as well as the Listed Ripon Two-Year-Old Trophy, while Alpha Capture landed the Listed Rockingham Stakes at York.
Tim Palin of Middleham Park Racing said: “We are working back from Finals Day with Shouldvebeenaring and Richard Hannon’s racing secretary Kevin Mason told me that he worked very well during the week.
“After he finished second in the Fast-Track Qualifier at Newcastle, we wanted to run in the next qualifier at Wolverhampton but the conditions of the race meant he would have had an 18lb penalty.
“We have rerouted here and it looks as though he has a joint-favourites chance alongside Alpha Capture. We did beat him at Newcastle but he was strongly fancied that day and maybe underperformed.
“Then you cannot discount the Mick Appleby horse, who is improving all the time and arrives at the top of his game. It should be a fascinating race.
“We would love to qualify in one hit on Monday and then freshen him up for Good Friday but, if not, he will most likely go to the Spring Cup at Lingfield for his third qualifying run.”
Mick Appleby’s Michaela’s Boy was fourth behind Never Just A Dream at Newcastle and has subsequently boosted the form with a pair of handicap victories at Newcastle and Chelmsford.
Southwell winner Rocking Ends, who finished second at Lingfield Park today, completes the field for Brett Johnson.