Lincoln Dancer, who went within a whisker of winning the Darley July Cup, can taste Group One success in the Stg#150,000 Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup at Haydock tomorrow.
The three-year-old, tackling his first sprint Pattern race, gave an outstanding display to run the brilliant Japanese five-year-old Agnes World to a short head at Newmarket.
The two were locked together throughout the final furlong and the verdict could have gone either way.
Lincoln Dancer`s performance was made to look even more meritorious when he was found to have sustained a cut around a hoof, probably when he received a hefty bump over a furlong out.
The Michael Jarvis-trained colt has had seven weeks to recover and goes to Haydock a fresh horse.
He has the advantage of being a course and distance winner, having won the Listed Sandy Lane Rated Stakes by four lengths from Presentation on soft ground in May.
Being a son of Turtle Island, cut in the ground will suitand heis a class act having run for well for a long way in the Sagitta 2000 Guineas before fading in the final quarter mile to finish 10th, beaten 11 lengths by winner King`s Best.
Pipalong, a short head behind Lincoln Dancer in third place at Newmarket is an obvious danger in the 15-runner line-up for the Showcase race.
But she had a tough race at York last week when third to Nuclear Debate in the Victor Chandler Nunthorpe Stakes and this could come a bit too soon.
Everest can continue his climb up the ratings by taking the stanleyacropolis.com Rated Stakes.
The three-year-old, trained by Paul Cole, had a three-month break after landing a Thirsk maiden in May before returning with a hard-fought head success over Sir Ferbet at Pontefract last month.
And he won another battle on his latest start when short-heading Kathir at Goodwood last Sunday. He can complete a four-timer in this extended 10-furlong handicap.
Maybe it is because he`s trained byHenry Cecil that Londoner is regarded as a two-year-old full of promise.
He is unbeaten so far having followed up a debut success at Newmarket`s July meeting with a workmanlike win by half-a-length from Referral in a four-runner affair at Yarmouth.
Londoner goes on his longest journey to date when he contests the stanleyacropolis.com Conditions Stakes. Both his wins have been over seven furlongs and the step up to a mile should suit.
Alva Glen can capture a big prize for the second successive Saturday by taking the Group Three Milcars September Stakes at Kempton.
Sir Michael Stoute`s colt showed himself a tough sort by winning the Sport On 5 March Stakes by three lengths from Kuwait Trooper at Goodwood last weekend, just 72 hours after he finished sixth in the Tote Ebor.
Cadeaux Cher can return to form in the Milcars Ruislip Handicap after putting in a fair effort on the same Goodwood card.
The Barry Hills-trained sprinter usually comes good at this time of year and was not beaten far when 10th of 21 to Surprised.
Hills`s son John can also get on the scoresheet through Amoras in the Milcars Watford Handicap.
The three-year-old filly did well to win to beat Den`s-Joy by a head at Windsor a week ago after being hit over the head by the runner-up rider`s whip in a driving finish.
At Thirsk, Minetta can take the Black Cat Fireworks Fillies` Stakes (Handicap) for the second year running and Summer Song can make it six wins from her last seven starts by collecting the Tote Scoop 6 Hambleton Cup.
