Dhushan seeking a hat-trick for Haggas in red-hot three-year-old handicap

2.05 Haydock
bet365 Handicap | 1m6f | 3yo | ITV/RTV

This is a hot three-year-old handicap and the last three runnings give an idea of its strength. Subsequent Chester Cup winner Making Miracles won it in 2018 and the following year it went to Sir Ron Priestley, who finished second in the St Leger just a couple of months later.

Last year's winner Favorite Moon won the Group 3 Manion Cup at Rosehill in Australia in March for William Haggas and the Newmarket trainer has a similarly promising type lining up in lightly-raced improver Dhushan, who is bidding for a hat-trick.

Dhushan is better than Favorite Moon at this stage of his career, but he has the weight to show for it. Favorite Moon was successful off a mark of just 80 last year and Dhushan will be racing off 12lb higher. That gives an idea of just how high he might go.

The market has an idea, too. Dhushan has gone off favourite for all four starts and never any bigger than 15-8. He looks likely to head the betting again and is evidently highly regarded.

Mark Johnston: saddles three in this valuable handicapCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The same can be said for some of his rivals, though. Harlem Soul has gone off favourite on two of his four starts and yet to return bigger than 3-1. He will be one of three runners representing Mark Johnston, who was responsible for Making Miracles and Sir Ron Priestley.

Harlem Soul didn't run at Ascot last month, though, and Making Miracles and Sir Ron Priestley were beaten in the King George V Stakes at the royal meeting before winning here.

Johnston's other two runners, Soapy Stevens (13th) and Kondo Isami (17th), finished down the field in the King George V Stakes last month, so shouldn't be discounted.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Richard Hannon, trainer of Sir Rumi and Reverend Hubert
This is a big step up in trip for Sir Rumi but I liked the way he finished well at Ascot last time, so it's worth a shot and we've always thought a lot of him. Reverend Hubert's got to improve a little bit but stays very well and we're utilising Thore's [Hammer Hansen] valuable 3lb claim, which could be enough to see him bang there.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Tashkhan
He's been in great form here since Ascot and we're just hoping they get a bit of rain. He ran over a mile and a half last time but he'll get two miles easily as stays all day. The more rain they get the better.

Ed de Giles, trainer of Alpine Stroll
We were always going to go back up trip but that was the right race to go for at Salisbury last time. He's certainly going to prove better over a mile and six but I'd want a little bit of rain as he appreciates getting his toe in a bit. For a valuable race it's not overly competitive and he has a tough constitution.

Sir Mark Prescott, trainer of Summer's Knight
He has won two small handicaps and we were surprised he got in off his racing weight. He should stay the trip but there's no masterplan going on with him.
Reporting by Tom Ward

Saturday's big-race previews:

The Saturday Jury: 'He has a very good chance' – jockey Sean Levey on his weekend prospects (Members' Club)

1.50 Sandown: is Arecibo a good thing? Graeme Rodway on what the Ascot sectionals tell us

2.25 Sandown: Tom Collins on Montatham's chances as he returns to a familar hunting ground

2.40 Haydock: 'I don't think she's ever trained better' – George Boughey on his Oaks runner-up

3.15 Haydock: Graeme Rodway on why we could be seeing a different kind of Sir Mark Prescott plot

3.35 Sandown: big-name trainers on their Group 1 contenders in the Coral-Eclipse this Saturday

3.35 Sandown: why this Eclipse could show us a champion – just not the one you might think (Members' Club)

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