Alfaatik the key contender as eight line up for intriguing Mallard

bet365 Mallard Handicap | 1m6½f, 3yo+ | ITV3/Sky

To paraphrase that renowned analyst Cilla Black back in the 1960s, "What’s it all about, Alfaatik?"

That is the question punters face in tackling a competitive handicap, in which all bar three of the eight runners have already matched or beaten their best Racing Post Rating in 2020.

Alfaatik smashed his career-high mark in returning from a long break to win a 1m4f handicap at York last month, but is that effort, which was described as "a little bit of a surprise" by connections, a performance to believe in?

He had clearly been well thought of by John Gosden, who started him off in the Sandown Classic Trial last year, and Hamdan Al Maktoum has never been afraid to geld a well-bred colt to help them reach the top – think recently of Mutakayyef, Mustashry and the peerless Battaash.

Alfaatik looked more inclined than previously to make use of his innate ability at York and a come-from-behind defeat of Dark Jedi, who went close off a higher mark in the Old Borough Cup at Haydock, reads well, particularly as he seemed to do little in front and a margin of three-quarters of a length may understate his superiority.

That said, there was plenty of pace on that day and he may have had the best of things given how the race was run, while those closest to him warn "he's still as difficult as he ever was".

He also faces in-form Sandown second Calculation plus a rival who proved himself ideally suited by this test 12 months ago.

Sleeping Lion appeared to benefit from the smallish field and the time to find his feet on this big galloping course when winning this race last year.

He ran to within 1lb of that career-best RPR when placed over 2m on his last two starts and looks to have been laid out for this by James Fanshawe, who has twice won the Mallard and also had a horse finish second from just six runners in the last nine years.

What they say

Angus Gold, racing manager to Hamdan Al Maktoum, owner of Alfaatik
I was as surprised as I was thrilled by his comeback win. He's not the most straightforward horse and, despite being gelded, he's still as difficult as he ever was. You've got to get him in the right mood so I can't tell you what he's going to do, it's up to him.

James Fanshawe, trainer of Sleeping Lion
He doesn’t show a lot at home but he looks great. It's the sort of track that really suits him as he takes some time to really get going as he's a long-striding horse. He's run consistently all year and I hope he can do so again here.

John Warren, racing manager to the Queen, owner of Calculation
Sir Michael [Stoute] is very happy with Calculation. He won well over the same course and distance last summer and we think all the conditions are right for him to be very competitive.

Ben Haslam, trainer of Solo Saxophone
He was a bit unlucky at York last time as he got stuck a bit far back – he made up some ground in the straight and didn't run too badly. I hope he can put that run behind him, but he's potentially on the high side in the handicap.

Roger Varian, trainer of Apparate
It didn't happen for him on his comeback at Ascot but he's moved forward from that at home. If it continues to dry out he would have a decent chance as he's a top-of-the-ground horse.

Graeme McPherson, trainer of High Wells
I think he has every chance. He's got better and better as the summer has gone on. He won very well at Kempton last week and deserves his chance off what we think is still quite a competitive weight. The trip is fine and the quicker the ground, the better.

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