Malthouse can go nap for Johnston

Mark Johnston boasts a remarkable recent record in the totepool Glasgow Stakes and Malthouse can give the Middleham handler his fifth consecutive success in the Listed contest at Hamilton this afternoon.

A recognised Derby trial when held at York – Commander In Chief used it as a stepping stone to Epsom glory in 1993 – it was moved to its current home in 2006, with Johnston winning the last four runnings, including 12 months ago with subsequent St Leger third Corsica.

This year’s representative Malthouse carries the same colours of Shiekh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, and has developed into a high-quality handicapper during a busy campaign.

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After competing at the Derby meeting and Royal Ascot, he then chased home potential top-notcher Dominant at Newmarket before returning to the July Course to make the frame in the hot handicap won by Fulgur last week.

The performance was all the more meritorious considering he had to carry top weight on that occasion and the quick reappearance should not inconvenience this hardy sort.

Johnston’s stable sponsors the Always Trying Maiden Stakes and his Mungo Park is certain to have his supporters after showing improved form when upped to this trip at Warwick

But, in Sunday Bess, he locks horns with a filly who has been highly tried this season and travels north in search of a deserved confidence-booster.

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Tom Dascombe has pitched his daughter of Deep Impact into the Cheshire Oaks and Ribblesdale – with no success – but it is the effort sandwiched between those runs that suggests her handler was not entirely wrong in trying his hand in that sort of company.

Sunday Bess got closest to Solar Sky on Merseyside, and the winner has since filled the runner-up berth in the Queen’s Vase, so she possesses plenty of talent.

The Kevin Ryan squadron is firing on all cylinders at present and the Hambleton trainer unleashes an interesting newcomer in the shape of Sardanapalus in the British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing EBF Maiden Stakes.

Although a relatively cheap purchase at Tattersalls last October, the son of Byron is a half-brother to Wave Aside, who made the frame in the Redcar Two-Year-Old Trophy, and a Gimcrack entry suggests he has been showing all the right signs at home.

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There is more decent action at Doncaster this evening, with the Laurie Bolger Happy Birthday Memorial Novice Stakes attracting a small but select line-up of promising juveniles.

Stonefield Flyer heads the list and his second to Frederick Engels in the Windsor Castle was given a huge boost when the winner followed up in last week’s July Stakes.

Keith Dalgleish’s colt stuck to his task really well at the Royal meeting so tonight’s extra furlong should eke out even more improvement.

Godolphin’s Lingfield scorer Pimpernel could give him most to think about and the Dubai outfit are well represented with three of the five runners in the Esquires Coffee Wheatley Retail Park Conditions Stakes.

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Despite Secrecy’s absence which stretches back to October, Frankie Dettori’s presence suggests he is the pick of the trio and he has gone well fresh in the past, including when making a winning debut on Town Moor when in the care of Michael Jarvis.

He developed into a genuine Group performer during 2010, with the pick of his efforts coming when second to Cityscape at Haydock, and this could provide him with a springboard to bigger and better things.

Fresh from saddling Green Destiny to lift the John Smith’s Cup last weekend, William Haggas returns to Yorkshire, albeit with less obvious claims in the Balaclava Handicap.

Lordofthehouse showed precious little during a brief two-year-old campaign last autumn but, as such, starts handicap life on a lowly mark and this half-brother to George Washington and Grandera can take full advantage.

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A mammoth 124 horses remain in the Blue Square Stewards’ Cup at Glorious Goodwood on July 30 after the latest entry stage.

Ante-post fancies such as the James Fanshawe duo of Deacon Blues and Mac’s Power stand their ground along with the Mick Easterby-trained pair of Hoof It and Ancient Cross.

Hawkeyethenoo, Pastoral Player and Waffle are other leading fancies to go forward, together with Jeremy Gask’s Medicean Man, a recent Ascot winner.

Green Destiny has been installed as 7-2 favourite by the sponsors for the totesport Mile after 63 horses went forward at the latest forfeit stage.

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William Haggas’s four-year-old has been raised 11lb following his hugely impressive win over 10 furlongs in the John Smith’s Cup at York, but will only carry a 3lb penalty for the Glorious Goodwood handicap on July 29.