In 2021 Dindingwe won the 2000m Pioneers & Heroes Tankard.

Wantage, by Ato out of a Tamburlaine (IRE) mare, won the 2000m Breeders Champions Cup (L) last year, getting the better of True Beauty, and he is due to defend his title at Borrowdale Park on Sunday.

However, there are no pushovers here. Citrusdal has won 12 races and the rest of the field 10 races each.

Holy Land will carry 60 kgs and must be considered although he might prefer a slightly shorter trip, never having won beyond 1800m. He is by Ideal World (USA) out of Lalibela by Silvano (GER).

Both Citrusdal and Wantage will carry 56 kgs. By Duke Of Marmalade (IRE) out of Key Bluff by Qui Danzig (USA), Citrusdal has won up to 2000m, and on 14 January Citrusdal beat Dindingwe by 3.50 lengths over Sunday’s trip when receiving 2.5 kgs. There is a turnaround in weights now.

Dindingwe is a proven stayer and is set to carry 53.5 kgs on Sunday. She won the 2000m Pioneers & Heroes Tankard in 2021 beating Wantage by 5 lengths. Her most recent victory was on December 2 when she won the 2700m Pinnacle Plate (90) trouncing Tigers Eagle (receiving 6 kgs) by 5 lengths. This 6-year-old mare is by Futura out of a Jallad (USA) mare.

This has the makings of a great race and I have no idea who will win it!

Photograph by Laurent Viguie: Dindingwe winning the 2021 Pioneers & Heroes Tankard with Rodgers Satombo in the irons.