'He's a course winner on soft ground' - Clive Cox hopeful for Ascot Adventure

Friday: 4.00 Haydock
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Clive Cox believes Ascot Adventure should have plenty in his favour as he tackles a mile for the first time in this fiercely competitive handicap at Haydock.

The most recent of the four-year-old's three wins came at this track in May over a furlong shorter, but he was not stopping that day and snatched victory only in the final strides.

A series of largely consistent efforts over seven furlongs has followed in four starts since, but Cox is hopeful the return to Haydock and softer conditions should suit as he heads into new territory over a mile.

Cox said: "He's a course winner on soft ground and very much at home in those conditions. We’re also stepping up to the mile trip and I’m looking forward to it — hopefully it should be in his favour as well.

"We have had a drier than usual autumn and he’s a horse who usually enjoys the ease in the ground."

Not many of the 14 runners arrive on the back of a good effort, but Charlie Fellowes can at least see reasons why Seasett might return to his best now faced with conditions described as heavy on Thursday.

The four-year-old put in some strong performances on soft and heavy ground last year, but the easiest surface he has faced this year was good-to-soft ground at Nottingham in April – when he won in a career-best effort.

'Horrible year'

The Newmarket trainer said: "He’s had a horrible year because he has to have it as soft as possible and everyone knows we’ve not had that. It looks like we’ve now finally got his ground and Haydock is a track that should really suit him.

"I’m sure there’s more when conditions are right because he’s been very good at home and looks the picture."

John Butler was delighted at reaching 50 winners in a year for the first time when Ivasecret won at Kempton on Wednesday evening, and Rhythm N Rock is his representative as he tries to edge that total even higher.

He said: "He’s doing well, but I was disappointed with him the last day because he underperformed at Ascot. I don’t know why he ran so badly and I was gutted, but everything is looking positive now.

"The Yarmouth run was good because we were waiting for that nice ground and we were protecting him until the change in conditions. We thought he’d progress going to Ascot, but Jim [Crowley] said he was in trouble from halfway.

"It’s a competitive race, but based on his form and his homework, he’s capable of putting on a big show."

On reaching the half-century mark, Butler added: "For a small yard, I think it’s a very big achievement to get 50 Flat winners at this time of year.

"We have found it a very difficult year with the amount of winners and the prize-money too, but we had some good success at York and it’s been by far the best campaign we’ve had. It’s a testament to the whole team."

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