Absolute Blast steeled for Magnolia mission by Archie Watson

Absolute Blast is out to maintain her good recent form when she runs in the Betfred Mobile Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.The five-year-old mare ran out of her skin in the Winter Derby on her first start for Archie Watson since leaving Iain Jardine when she finished third, beaten just a neck and a head.In receipt of weight from all of her rivals bar one, she is favoured by the conditions in this Listed race and another big run is expected before her return to Lingfield on Go od Friday. "We are very happy with her since that run at Lingfield," said Watson. "She ran a great race and it didn't surprise me at all. We have just freshened her up and she cannot be coming into Saturday's race any better. "She was only getting 3lb off them last time and she is getting 5lb from them this time so that should make her very competitive."We are looking forward to running her on the turf, but she will run in this and then, all being well, she will then go to Lingfield on Good Friday for the Classic."The plan going forward for her will be races like the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom. Obviously we would like to try to get a Group race win with her."She has already run well against colts at Listed level, so back against her own sex, she should be very competitive."The eight-year-old Sovereign Debt has his first start for Ruth Carr since leaving David Nicholls upon his recent retirement.Last seen winning in Qatar, the consistent gelding is having his first run over 10 furlongs in what will be his 50th race.Carr said: "Sovereign Debt is a very laid-back sort of horse which has obviously stood him in good stead throughout his career."He has settled in well and is ticking along nicely."I think the 10 furlongs will stretch his stamina, although he does settle so well and is so laid-back that it will give him a chance to stay."The main thing is that we will qualify for Good Friday. It is a stepping stone and any more than that will be a bonus."The target on Good Friday is the Sun Bets All-Weather Mile."Marco Botti also has a new recruit in the same race, having inherited Poeta Diletto from his brother, Stefano, who trains in Italy."He came to us in December having won the Italian Guineas," said Botti."His form tailed off a bit after that but he has been working well and seems in good form."Ideally I would have liked to have started him off over a mile on grass but the Doncaster Mile looked very hot this weekend."So, he's running here instead and I expect to learn a bit more about him. Whether he's worth a rating of 108 we will have to see but I hope he runs a good race and then we can make a plan."Rune Haugen, the Norwegian trainer now based in Newmarket, runs Quarterback, while Viren's Army and Linguistic, separated by just a short-head in the Dee Stakes at Chester, take each other on again.Fire Fighting and Very Dashing complete the field.