The mile Tapeta contest provides the winner with a guaranteed start in the Bombardier All-Weather Mile Championship at Lingfield Park on All-Weather Championships Finals Day, Good Friday, April 2.

Ummalnar (William Haggas/Tom Marquand) has a 3lb penalty to contend with following a career best on her latest start.

The six-year-old produced the most impressive Fast-Track Qualifier performance of the season so far when slamming Surrounding by six lengths in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cooley Fillies & Mares Stakes at Dundalk on November 13.

Trainer William Haggas said today:

“Ummalnar has been fine since her win in Ireland.

“This race fits in well in preparation for Dubai at the end of the month. She is heading out there for the Cape Verdi on January 28.

“Beyond that, I would say it is very possible that she will come back here to run on the All-Weather. “We will keep all our options open, but it’s definitely Newcastle tomorrow and then Dubai on the 28th.”

Ummalnar winning at Dundalk

Former Godolphin runner Vintager (Simon & Ed Crisford/Jack Mitchell) made a promising start for his current connections when landing a mile conditions race at Chantilly on December 8, his first start for 430 days.

The six-year-old enjoyed some big days for Charlie Appleby in 2019, winning a G3 contest at Chantilly and the G2 86th Oettingen-Rennen in Germany.

The five runners also include Count Of Amazonia (Ben Curtis), who is unbeaten in two starts since joining Marco Botti from Richard Hannon.

Both of those successes have come on the All-Weather at Chelmsford City, most recently in a class two handicap on December 10.

Born To Be Alive (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee), twice a runner-up at Listed level, returned from a 896-day absence to finish second in an extended nine-furlong handicap at Wolverhampton on December 26.

Trainer Karl Burke said today: “Born To Be Alive is obviously coming back after an injury. He ran well at Wolverhampton albeit in a messy race after Mick Appleby’s horse [Big Country] came down.

“He came to win his race and just blew up really, so he will definitely come on fitness wise, and we have always felt that he is better over a mile rather than a bit further.

“It looks a tough race, but he deserves a crack at it.” G3 Sovereign Stakes fourth Bless Him (David Simcock/Jamie Spencer), successful in the Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot in 2017, completes the field.

Burke hoping Exalted Angel can turn tables on Venturous A starting berth in the Betway All-Weather Sprint Championship is up for grabs in the Betway Conditions Stakes (5.00pm) at Newcastle tomorrow, Tuesday, January 12, the sole five-furlong Fast-Track Qualifier of the championships.

Venturous (David Barron/Tom Marquand) had a strong end to the 2020 campaign, winning five-furlong handicaps at Doncaster, Newcastle and latterly Wolverhampton on December 18.

Exalted Angel (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee) finished second to Venturous at Newcastle and third behind the same rival at Wolverhampton having forfeited lengths at the start on each occasion.

The progressive five-year-old had won twice on the Fibresand at Southwell earlier in the year. Trainer Karl Burke said today:

“Exalted Angel is in great order and I am looking forward to seeing him run.

“He has been a bit tardy out of the stalls on his last couple of starts, which has left him with ground to make up.

I think he would have definitely beaten Venturous at Newcastle had he jumped on terms.

“If he jumps reasonably well tomorrow and is able to track the leaders, he will run a big race. He is a nice horse on the upgrade, I think.”

Veteran All-Weather campaigner Royal Birth (Stuart Williams/Jason Hart) was back to his best over the festive period, beating Ornate (David Griffiths/Phil Dennis) at Lingfield Park on December 22 and following up at the same track on January 4.

In total, the 10-year-old has won 10 of his 53 starts on the All-Weather.

The unknown quantity in the field is Bomb Proof (James Fanshawe/PJ McDonald), who has not raced since finishing seventh on his handicap debut at Ascot in July.

He had looked a horse of considerable promise prior to that, winning his first two starts at York and Beverley

Tawny Port (Stuart Williams/Ben Curtis) drops back to five furlongs for the first time in over a year.

He registered three victories over the minimum distance last winter but has raced exclusively over six furlongs since then.

The seven runners are completed by Lomu (David Loughnane/Paul Mulrennan), a winner over the course and distance on his penultimate start.

About the All-Weather Championships

Season eight of the All-Weather Championships runs from Tuesday, October 20, 2020 and culminates with All-Weather Championships Finals Day on Good Friday, April 2, 2021 at Lingfield Park.

The six championship categories are:

Three-Year-Olds sponsored by Ladbrokes - 6f Final

Fillies & Mares sponsored by Ladbrokes - 7f Final

Mile sponsored by Bombardier - 1m Final

Sprint sponsored by Betway - 6f Final

Marathon sponsored by Betway - 2m Final

Middle Distance sponsored Betway - 10f Final

There are two ways for horses to qualify for one of the finals on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield Park:

* A horse can win a 'Fast Track Qualifier' race which will ensure a FREE and GUARANTEED place in the corresponding final on Good Friday. There are four Fast Track Qualifiers in each of the six Championship Categories hosted at racecourses in Great Britain, Ireland and France. If a filly wins any of the Fast-Track Qualifier races for either the Sprint or the Mile categories, the filly will be qualified for the final of that specific category, or for the Fillies and Mares Final.

or

* A horse must run a minimum of three times on the All-Weather surfaces in Great Britain, Ireland and France; or twice on the All-Weather surfaces in Great Britain, Ireland, France and once on dirt in Dubai during the qualifying period between October 20, 2020 and the six-day entry stage for the finals (Saturday, March 28, 2021) and then be rated high enough to 'make the cut' in a final by order of its BHA Rating.

In addition, prizes will be awarded to each of the All-Weather Champions - the 'All Stars' - based on the number of winners at the end of the All-Weather Championships season:

Champion All-Weather Jockey (winner and runner up)

Champion All-Weather Apprentice Jockey (winner and runner up)

Champion All-Weather Trainer

Champion All-Weather Owner

Winning Most All-Weather Horse

For details of the 24 Fast-Track Qualifiers, please click here: https://www.awchampionships.co.uk/take-part/fast-track-qualifier-dates/ Fast-Track Qualifier winners so far:

1 - 3YO, October 20, Newcastle, 6f, SIGNFICANTLY (Karl Burke/Clifford Lee)

2 - F&M, October 29, Lingfield Park, 1m, INDIE ANGEL (John Gosden/Frankie Dettori)

3 - F&M, November 13, Dundalk (IRE), 1m, UMMALNAR (William Haggas/Chris Hayes)

4 - MD, November 14, Lingfield Park, 1m 2f, DUBAI WARRIOR (John Gosden/Robert Havlin)

5 - SPRINT, November 14, Lingfield Park, 6f, GOOD EFFORT (Ismail Mohammed/Ray Dawson)

6 - MILE, November 18, Kempton Park, 1m, KINROSS (Ralph Beckett/Richard Kingscote)

7 - MD, November 25, Deauville (FR), 1m 1½f, SKY POWER (Gael Barbedette/Stephane Pasquier)

8 - 3YO, December 5, Wolverhampton, 6f, VICTORY HEIGHTS (James Tate/PJ McDonald)

9 - MA, December 12, Newcastle, 2m 56y, ISLAND BRAVE (Heather Main/Cieren Fallon)

10 - F&M, January 4, Wolverhampton, 7f, AMNIARIX (Ed Walker/Richard Kingscote)

For more information on the All-Weather Championships, please visit www.awchampionships.co.uk