Can Godolphin’s Ghostwatch give handicap rivals a fright?

12.35 Haydock
bet365 Handicap | 1m6f | 3yo | ITV/RUK

It's a big day for Brett Doyle – and not just because he is riding likely favourite Ghostwatch in the £100,000 opener at the Merseyside track.

Doyle is better known these days as the work-rider of Masar, who he will no doubt be watching closely on a TV somewhere at around 2.10pm when the Derby winner tackles the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

But first he takes the mount on Ghostwatch, who handled a step up to this trip when accounting for Sharja Silk at Sandown last time. However, the form did not receive a boost when Sharja Silk subsequently finished nine lengths adrift of Rude Awakening, who also runs here.

Ghostwatch's trainer Charlie Appleby said on Friday: "He's a progressive type who put up a good performance at Sandown and it looks like staying is his forte.

"Brett is riding up there tonight and will stay over to take the ride. No doubt he'll stop off somewhere on the way home to watch Masar run, even if it's a TV in a shop window."

Can one of Johnston's trio strike gold?

Mark Johnston saddles three runners, headed by Royal Ascot eyecatcher Making Miracles, who shaped as if this trip would suit when staying on into seventh behind stablemate Baghdad in the 1m4f King George V Handicap.

Also in the mix is Austrian School, who has won twice already this year but has something to find with Diocletian, who triumphed at Doncaster when Austrian School could finish only fourth.

Johnston, who also fields Lynwood Gold, said: "All three have good profiles for the race but they are running primarily because there is little else for them at the moment despite the plethora of racing."

Will the handicapper get a rude awakening?

Sir Mark Prescott has his team in good form and his Rude Awakening runs just eight days after a six-length victory at Doncaster.

He has been given a hefty 10lb rise in the weights, which Prescott fears could prove a decisive anchor.

He said: "Rude Awakening won well at Doncaster but unfortunately the handicapper didn't miss the race and he's up a fair bit. He should run well but he's not that well drawn and I can see something beating him."

Is Sexy Beast an appealing proposition?

Like Ghostwatch and Rude Awakening, Diocletian and Sexy Beast also come here off the back of victories.

Of Sexy Beast, who was an easy winner over course and distance, trainer Ed de Giles said: "He won well last time. It was not a great race but you can only beat what is in front of you. It's a tough race but not as tough as it could be for the money."

Watch Sexy Beast win comfortably over course and distance

Diocletian's trainer Andrew Balding, who also runs Perfect Illusion, said: "Perfect Illusion will find this easier than Royal Ascot and has a chance but the ground will be a bit different for Diocletian, who won nicely on soft at Doncaster."

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