Coral Easter Classic: Battalion has battling qualities to give Grendisar a race

Harry Preston | March 23, 2016

The Coral Easter Classic is perhaps the most prestigious race on the All-Weather calendar, and this showpiece contest of Good Friday’s Finals Day at Lingfield could see William Haggas horse Battalion have the scope to upset the odds.

Grendisar a worthy favourite

While Marco Botti’s Grendisar is a hot favourite to scoop this, having won both his starts in 2016 and a 50 per cent strike rate over course and the 1m 2f distance this season, a favourable low stall draw for Battalion could give him plenty to think about.

There is no doubting Grendisar’s credentials and his status as market leader is more than justified by his Coral Winter Derby victory last time out. The six-year-old made eye-catching headway to land this from Maverick Wave, who re-opposes, by over a length.

With half a dozen career Lingfield wins under his belt, Grendisar is primed to improve on a third place finish in last year’s Coral Easter Classic in the upcoming renewal.

Complicit was runner-up in the 2015 running of this race, but has failed to perform on the all weather this term, leaving either Maverick Wave or Batallion to lay the gauntlet down to Grendisar.

Batallion needs a clear run

Although finishing fifth of 14 and three places behind Grendisar in the listed Churchill Stakes over course and distance in November, Batallion found himself short of racing room.