THE current spell of inclement weather is threatening to play havoc with this weekend's racing, including today's meetings at Haydock and Leopardstown which are both due to feature Group 1 action.
Thirsk has already succumbed to the band of persistent rain that has been circling over the region since yesterday morning and the track faces a 3.00pm inspection to gauge prospects for tomorrow's planned card.
Apart from the all-weather meetings
at Kempton and Wolverhampton, meanwhile, executives and racegoers will be keeping their fingers crossed for a break in the weather though contingency plans are already in place to save the main events with Leopardstown having the provision to race tomorrow rather than cancellation and Doncaster on standby to stage the Betfred Sprint Cup during next week's St Leger meeting should Haydock's covers fail to contain a forecast 30mm of rain.
A high draw has proved an advantage in Haydock's feature over the years but this season the stalls are being positioned on the far rail and there are hopes a more level playing field will ensue.
Barry Hills, responsible for last year's winner Red Clubs, has another live candidate this time around in Equiano, who won Royal Ascot's King's Stand Stakes before finishing an honourable fourth in the relocated Nunthorpe Stakes at Newmarket. He boasts solid form on a soft surface and should go close along with proven mudlark Utmost Respect, who represents Richard Fahey, and French raider African Rose.
The latter was runner-up to the brilliant Marchand D'or in Deauville's Prix Maurice De Gheest last month, two places ahead of Utmost Respect, but there has always been a suspicion that Henry Candy's Corrybrough has the potential to make a top-class sprinter and he could represent a bit of value this afternoon.
Should Haydock get the go-ahead, Paul Blockley's filly Lady Deauville could get punters off to a good start in the Betfred Ladies Poker Tour Superior Mile while the betfred.com Old Borough Cup Handicap offers George Moore's Bogside Theatre a good opportunity to end a frustrating run of placed efforts in decent staying races though the rain may ultimately have the final word.
Mark Johnston reports Lovelace to be "in the form of his life'' as he prepares to step up to the highest level in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp tomorrow.
The son of Royal Applause has done nothing but progress this season, landing a valuable handicap at Sandown back in July before scoring in Group Two company in Germany earlier this week.
Johnston admits his charge faces a much stiffer task against the likes of Henrythenavigator in France, but he believes his colt will do himself justice in the Group One event.
"Lovelace came out of the race in Germany very well and he did it so easily – you wouldn't know he had even had a race,'' said Johnston.
"Obviously, Sunday's race looks very good but my horse is in the form of his life so it is definitely worth a go.''
TODAY'S BESTDUKE'S DOUBLECaptain Ramius (4.00 Kempton), nap and La Brigitte (4.15 Haydock).
DUKE'S TREBLECaptain Ramius, La Brigitte and Bollin Felix (3.40 Haydock).
JULIUS'S DOUBLECaptain Ellis (4.45 Haydock), nap and Weatherstaff (2.20 Kempton).
FORMNAPEquiano (3.10 Haydock).
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