Osborne hopeful Raising Sand can step up to Group company in Superior Mile

2.25 Haydock
Bet In Play On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes | Group 3 | 1m | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Ascot has proved the spiritual home and happy hunting ground for Jamie Osborne’s Raising Sand but he now journeys north to Lancashire and takes his place in Group company for the first time in a career spanning 25 starts.

The seven-year-old, who is also a stable favourite at Osborne’s Upper Lambourn yard, almost raised the roof at the Berkshire course when landing the International Handicap on his last outing back in July and has been freshened up since.

Osborne admitted his contender is entering unknown territory and said: "He is straying away from his beloved Ascot where he has scored four times but the soft ground on offer at Haydock has drawn us in that direction.

"After winning at Ascot last time he is now on a career-high handicap mark of 109 which is substantial enough for a horse of his age so we think the time has come to chuck him up in class on his favoured ground and see how we get on."

Raising Sand will again be partnered by Nicola Currie and the trainer added: "He is a fabulous horse who never ceases to amaze me and he now gets on so well with Nicola. He owes nobody anything and holds his form particularly well."

What they say

Charlie Johnston, assistant to Mark Johnston, trainer of Matterhorn
He ran very well at Windsor last time in a warm enough race. He's the second top-rated in this contest so deserves to take his chance. I suppose the soft ground is a slight concern but he seemed to handle it well enough at Chester back in May.

Roger Varian, trainer of Sharja Bridge
He's been gelded since disappointing in the summer but will appreciate the cut in the ground. On form he has a chance and hopefully this will set him up for a productive autumn.

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