Who does Paul Kealy think could be the one to beat in a wide-open Haydock handicap?

This is arguably the most competitive race away from Ascot's card and you could make a case for almost everything.

Forecast rank outsider Liamarty Dreams, for instance, is a course-and-distance winner who has dropped a stone in the ratings this season, and even the form of his second from a 6lb higher mark just four starts ago would make him one of the favourites.

He's been abysmal in three runs since, though, and trainer Karl Burke has a poor record with horses in a first-time visor (five per cent strike-rate).

Much more pressing claims on recent form are offered by Ata Rangi, who has a win and a second to his name in three starts since joining Ed Walker from Henry de Bromhead, and was beaten only half a length in a field of 19 last time. His only disappointment for Walker came when not racing in the front rank, so we can expect a prominent role from stall one.

Mostar Dreams won her second race of the season over course and distance on her penultimate outing and wasn't disgraced in a much better Ebor meeting handicap next time. Indeed, she shaped as if still very much in form as her rider attempted to switch to the outside for a run but found himself blocked off, and she stayed on nicely after having to switch the other way.

If she gets a decent enough pace to run at, she could prove the one to beat.

The good news for her potential followers is that there are others in the field who like to race prominently, with Sixtygeesbaby, Lexington Belle and Liamarty Dreams likely to ensure Ata Rangi doesn't get his own way.

The veteran Persuasion ran his worst race for some time last time, but that was in a very good contest at Galway, and he'd been running some fair races before that. Given his course form figures of 13221, the last win having come in this race last year off just 1lb lower, it's easy to see him going well again.
Analysis by Paul Kealy

What they say

Ed Walker, trainer of Arctic Thunder and Ata Rangi
Arctic Thunder is stepping back up in trip and hopefully it'll see him in a better light. He's been a bit frustrating this year, but six furlongs should suit him. Ata Rangi is in great form and will love a bit of ease in the ground. We've been very patient with him, so hopefully with a good draw in stall one he'll take all the beating.

Jim Goldie, trainer of Mostar Dreams
She likes the course. She was a bit unlucky at York last time, but she should be a player if everything falls right. I think she'll run well, though she wouldn't want it too soft.

David O'Meara, trainer of We Dare To Dream
He's had a pretty good season, including winning at Beverley, and he doesn't mind a bit of juice in the ground.

Tom Clover, trainer of Sixtygeesbaby
He's training well and the more rain the better. He won nicely at Newmarket last year and, although he's run three nice races this year on better ground, we feel he might be at his best on easier ground. He goes there in good shape and I'm looking forward to getting him out.

Eve Johnson Houghton, trainer of Bishop's Crown
He's doing great and it looks like he's crying out for seven furlongs, so we're giving him a go at the trip.
Reporting by Liam Headd

And another thing to look out for at Haydock . . .

Egan in Haggas link-up

The promising and well-related Alexandra Egan has a score of five wins from 17 rides since switching to Britain this year, and it seems a significant moment that she gets her first mount for William Haggas in the 1m6f apprentice handicap (1.32) at Haydock.

The 20-year-old daughter of jockey John Egan and brother of Amo Racing's retained rider David partners Mission Possible, who makes her handicap debut in first-time blinkers from a fair mark of 69. By Dubawi, the filly is out of an unraced sister to Japan, so there is every chance she'll graduate to higher ratings in time.
Chris Cook