'He has real quality about him' - trainers on their Old Borough Cup contenders
Saturday: 2.55 Haydock
Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap | 1m6f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV
Ian Williams has won this twice in the last three seasons and the trainer might have had his eye on the race for a while because he saddles two runners in his bid for another success.
There aren't many better than Williams when it comes to training stayers and he is particularly good with those he acquires from other yards, so it's a surprise he has not been able to find the key to Indianapolis since he took him on from James Given. But the six-year-old might be getting there.
Indianapolis produced his best run for Williams when a close fourth over this mile and three-quarters at Ascot in July and his last two runs, a fifth at Newbury and sixth at Ascot, both came at two-miles plus. The return to this shorter distance looks more suitable.
It is less than a year since he was a close third over course and distance off 12lb higher and he has some good form at the track. Williams knows that and this has probably been the target.
The trainer's other runner Autumn War is also more talented than his mark of 88 implies but he has not helped himself recently. He hung all over the place when second at Newmarket last month and should have won at Goodwood last week, but found a way not to.
He lost several lengths at the start, but was travelling better than anything two furlongs out only to hold his head awkwardly under pressure and never look like passing Just Hubert. If he gets off to a better start and puts his head down to race he will probably win, but that is a big 'if'.
There are no questions about Rajinsky's attitude. He is as game as they come and was unlucky not to win a 2m handicap here in May when caught close home after touching 1.02 in running on Betfair. He is 2lb higher, but probably better over further than this trip.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway
Johnson Houghton fancies big run from bottomweight
A handy 22lb receipt from topweight Global Storm could be useful for trainer Eve Johnson Houghton's "very progressive" four-year-old Noble Masquerade as he bids to continue his upward curve stepping markedly up in grade and distance.
Having begun his four-year-old campaign racing over 1m½f in a Nottingham Class 5, Noble Masquerade has gradually been stepped back up in trip and Johnson Houghton believes he is now a much stronger horse as he prepares to tackle 1m6f for the first time in almost a year after victories at Kempton and Windsor.
She said: "He's got a nice low weight, Hollie Doyle on board and a smaller field than we might have predicted so we're very hopeful. He's progressive, it's taken some time for the penny to drop but he's getting the idea now and I'm very pleased with him. I think he'll get the trip fine. He wanted it last year but wasn't quite strong enough."
What they say
Heather Main, trainer of Island Brave
I'm feeling very positive. He's in good form and has been unlucky on his last few runs. He's ready to win and is up against some old rivals he's beaten before. The quick ground shouldn't faze him as he likes it good or better.
Stuart Williams, trainer of Rhythmic Intent
There is some doubt he'll run if it got very fast up there, but he does like decent ground. He ran well at York last time at a distance that is probably on the short side for him these days so the extra two furlongs should help.
Tom Dascombe, trainer of Rajinsky
He's very straightforward and honest but has a habit of finishing second, which isn't his fault. The ground may be on the fast side for him, but he'll do his best that's for sure.
Ian Williams, trainer of Autumn War and Indianapolis
Autumn War has some real quality about him. He'll appreciate what I hope will be a decent pace and hopefully he'll break well and be ridden a lot handier than he has been. Indianapolis has fallen to a very workable mark and I'd hope he starts to become effective in this type of race and the visor should bring that little bit extra.
Reporting by Sam Hendry
Saturday's race previews:
1.45 Haydock: find out why it could be best to ignore the Superior Mile market leaders
2.20 Haydock: is Valley Forge a good thing to follow up his Melrose win?
2.40 Kempton: admirable Hukum aims for another Group 3 victory in September Stakes
3.10 Ascot: they go together like salt and pepper – Graeme Rodway on racing's perfect match
3.30 Haydock: 'He's the one to beat' – can anyone stop Starman and Tom Marquand in Sprint Cup?
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