GEOFF OLDROYD is hoping Alfred Hutchinson can bag a berth in April’s £150,000 Ladbrokes Mile by winning at Lingfield today.

The Norton handler takes his sand star south in a bid to scoop the £19,000 Ladbrokes Conditions Stakes at the course – a fast-track qualifier for the inaugural mile contest on All-Weather Championships Finals Day at Lingfield on Good Friday.

Alfred Hutchinson, owned by Pocklington tyre magnate Reg Bond, comes into the race on the back of a decisive three-quarters of a length success in a mile handicap at Lingfield at the end of December.

The six-year-old had previously captured a mile conditions contest over the same course and distance nine days earlier when beating Emerald Wilderness by a length.

Oldroyd said: “Alfred Hutchinson is in good nick and has come out of his win at Lingfield very well.

“I thought it was a good performance last time because that’s how he wants to be ridden – he likes to be covered up in a true-run race so he can use his turn of foot.

“Robert Tart gets a good tune out of him and Alfred Hutchinson certainly wouldn’t be without a chance.

“He loves the surface and the quick mile at Lingfield really suits him.

“The long term aim is All-Weather Championships Finals Day and it would be great if we could pull it off.”

Alfred Hutchinson will face six rivals, headed by multiple Listed-placed mare Galician, trained by Middleham’s Mark Johnston, Polytrack specialist Chookie Royale and last year’s Winter Derby runner-up Robins Hood Bay.