Furtado has high hopes for Hulcolt

After moving to Wiseton Stables near Doncaster, the Brazilian-born handler has saddled three winners from 20 runners and is clearly hopeful that Hulcolt – a Beverley course specialist – can add to this tally on the Westwood.

The horse’s only two career successes to date have come at the picturesque East Yorkshire track and Hulcolt warmed up for today’s Sandra Evison Memorial Handicap over seven and a half furlongs by finishing second to Denzille Lane following a long lay-off.

“He is a course-and-distance specialist and must always have a chance at Beverley. His home-work has been very good and we know he goes so well over that distance. He also runs very well on good ground,” said Furtado.

A former pupil assistant trainer to Roger Charlton, Furtado was principal work rider for Al Kazeem – the horse that helped to kickstart the career of jockey James Doyle by winning the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland, the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and then Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse.

He was then appointed assistant at Alan McCabe’s Newark stables before taking out a training licence earlier this summer. Furtado said: “We’ve made a very good start and it’s very exciting to be training outright. Hopefully we can carry the run on at Beverley.”

Hulcolt takes on 11 rivals at Beverley, including the locally-owned Make On Madam, a recent course scorer, and Relight My Fire, who landed the spoils two years ago.

Feature race on the eight-race card is the 130th Year Of The Watt Memorial Handicap – a race named in honour of former Bishop Burton handler Richard Watt, who trained four St Leger winners in the early 19th century.

The two-mile affair has attracted six solid stayers, including Shalabina from Richard Fahey’s yard and the hat-trick-seeking Aldreth, trained by Mick Easterby.

Talented apprentice Joey Haynes enjoyed a landmark day at Ayr after riding out his claim aboard the in-form Jay Kay.

Haynes returned to Scotland in good form after riding a Saturday double at Hamilton, the Middleham-based rider was prominent throughout the one mile race.

Burke’s charge holds entries at Haydock and Hamilton later in the week and the Leyburn-based trainer will consider letting him back up quickly.

He said: “He’s a tough old horse in this grade and loves the track and the ground. He’s done it very well and if he comes out of it OK we’ll probably turn him out again somewhere later in the week. Joey is doing very well for us and I’m very pleased with him.”

Frankie Dettori says he could ride for another six years after his career was rekindled by the Dante, Derby and Eclipse winner Golden Horn.

“I’m enjoying things, I’m fit and well and 50 is only a number – I’ll go on as long as I can,” said the 44-year-old who came close to quitting the saddle before being reunited with his early mentor John Gosden.