'It looks like a race he can win' - Hamish out to give Haggas another St Simon

William Haggas has won two of the last four runnings of the Group 3 Virgin Bet St Simon Stakes (2.25) and is back for more with Hamish.

The lightly raced six-year-old has some high-class form this season, notably when second to Kyprios in the Group 1 Irish St Leger, and showed that was no fluke when justifying favouritism in the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes at Ascot last time.

Hamish has a 3lb penalty to carry as a result of that triumph and concedes weight to all of his rivals bar Max Vega.

Haggas said: "Hamish has a small penalty. If he's still in good form, which he seems to be, he has a good chance. It looks like a race he can win."

Saeed bin Suroor has begun shipping horses and personnel over to Dubai for the winter, but still has a few to run in Britain, including Passion And Glory, who should enjoy the conditions.

The six-year-old was last seen coming home third behind Siskany and Without A Fight in a Newmarket Listed race in September.

Bin Suroor said: "The going is important to Passion And Glory as he prefers some cut in the ground. This is his last opportunity before we take him back out to Dubai and he looks to be in good form."

Apart from Hamish, the only other runner with a penalty is Max Vega. His trainer Ralph Beckett said: "He loves it round there and he loves the ground as well, but a penalty makes life tougher for him."

The only three-year-old in the eight-runner line up is Grand Alliance, whose trainer Charlie Fellowes said: "Grand Alliance has been gelded since his last run and has been crying out for soft ground, so there's plenty to like. Obviously, there is Hamish to beat but we think he'll like the track and we're happy to have James Doyle in the saddle as he gets on well with the horse."

Star looking to strike for favourite backers

No favourite has won the Group 3 Virgin Bet Horris Hill Stakes (1.50) for more than ten years, something Charlie Appleby will be out to end with leading fancy Striking Star.

The son of Dubawi was most impressive when winning on his debut over this 7f trip at Sandown last month when encountering soft ground, so he should be fine in the conditions.

Striking Star draws clear of his rivals to win at SandownCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

The Godolphin trainer, who won four of the races on two-year-old day at Newmarket on Wednesday, said: “We've been pleased with the way Striking Star has come out of his win at Sandown and conditions at Newbury should suit him.

"He has to step up on what he has achieved and we hope to find out what level we will be dealing with as a three-year-old."

Of the opposition, Roger Varian hit the target in the Group 1 QEII Stakes at Ascot with Bayside Boy last Saturday and, a week on, he is back with his half-brother Lord Of Biscay.

The trainer said: "He won what I think was quite a good novice on his debut at Yarmouth. The second won very well next time and he's a half-brother to Bayside Boy who seems to handle soft ground.

"We're hopeful he will be fine on the underfoot conditions, although he's still learning his job having only been to the racecourse once before."

Roger Teal fields a decent prospect in the shape of Caragio, a winner at Leicester last time. He said: "He's a lovely horse, very exciting. Greenness beat him at Newbury then he was still very green when he won with his ears pricked at Leicester.

"He's come on again at home since then. The ground has changed but I don't see any reason why he won't go on it – his sire Caravaggio loved soft ground."

Others in the mix include Defence Of Fort, who is bidding to put a poor showing in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown behind him.

Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam said: "He's in good shape. I don't know how he'll handle the ground, but he has a knee action so hopefully he'll be okay.

"I had hoped to run him in a sales race at York a fortnight ago until he wrenched a joint, but he seems fine now. He's a good horse but it looks a hot race with the Godolphin horse looking hard to beat."

Beckett, who won the race in 2016, fields Grey's Monument and Promoter. He said: "They both look like they could do with another furlong but the soft ground should even it out, they'll both enjoy that."

Saturday previews:

2.05 Cheltenham: 'He was unlucky not to win last year' - who fancies their chances at Cheltenham?

2.40 Cheltenham: Pied Piper or Knight Salute: who will claim victory in a classic trilogy?

3.15 Cheltenham: Can course regular Editeur Du Gite notch yet another Cheltenham victory?

3.35 Doncaster: 'We want to run' - but O'Brien wary of ground for hot favourite Auguste Rodin

3.50 Cheltenham: Can Charles Byrnes and son strike another blow for the Irish with Shoot First?

Leopardstown: Hippodrome looks main hope as Aidan O'Brien targets 12th Eyrefield Stakes

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