Strath Burn bids to go one place better

Second in last year's Haydock Sprint Cup - which is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series - Strath Burn bids to go one better when lining up for the 2016 running of the race on Saturday (16.30).

Trained by Charlie Hills 12 months ago, Strath Burn is now in the Newmarket stables of Robert Cowell, who has saddled him to finish third on his two most recent starts in conditions races. He needs to step up considerably to be competitive at Group One level, but Cowell says: ‚"His last two pieces of work have been the best since his arrival with us, showing plenty of zest and finishing off strongly with a useful sprinter for company. We probably just need a little cut in the going to run his best race.‚"

Forecast rain will be very much to Cowell's liking, and the horse who beat Strath Burn a short-head in the 2015 running of the race, the Henry Candy-trained Twilight Son, was not declared for the 32Red-sponsored contest.

However, his stablemate, Limato, has won this season's Gr.1 July Cup and finished runner-up in last month's Gr.1 Nunthorpe Stakes, so the test is no easier. Strath Burn races for a Qatar Racing partnership with Ronnie Bartlett.

Other dangers in the 17-strong field include consistent Suedois, progressive The Tin Man and the very smart fillies Dancing Star and Quiet Reflection.

Dancing Star won the Stewards' Cup, a handicap, on her latest start, and is taking a huge hike in class, but she is following in the steps of Magical Memory, who won the Stewards Cup in 2015, has since shown he is a Group One sprinter, and is another danger to all in Saturday's test.

Other Qatar Racing runners during the afternoon include the good handicapper Suzi's Connoisseur, who lines up at Ascot (2.40). He has gone up 3lb to a mark of 101 following his excellent second in a handicap at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, but Aaron Jones, who is apprenticed to trainer Stuart Williams, claims 3lb. Williams is happy with stall two in an 18-runner field.

Qatar Racing has three runners today on Kempton's all-weather track, including Soul Silver, who carries a winner's penalty in a conditions race (19.30). The unraced pair of Melodic Motion and Harbour Rock make their racecourse debuts in a maiden (18.00).

Photo shows finish of 2015 Haydock Sprint Cup, as Twilight Son narrowly defeats Strath Burn