HAGGAS’S SHOT AT GLORY

WITH more than 200 horses in training this season, William Haggas has become perhaps the pre- eminent trainer in Newmarket and NOVOMAN (Musselburgh, 3.0) could wrestle another sizeable prize from his Scottish counterparts today.

Haggas has enjoyed some notable victories north of the border and the Royal Mile Handicap has been a fruitful race in recent seasons.

Novoman was a shade unlucky not to add to a single Brighton victory last term with a near miss at Pontefract on his penultimate start prior to another solid run at Doncaster in September.

The son of Sir Prancelot has since been gelded, which may help to concentrate his mind, and conditions should be ideal this afternoon.

The prospect of drying spring ground should play to the strengths of MIDNIGHT SHOT (Haydock, nb, 4.20), who could be a horse to catch on his return to the track following a lengthy absence.

There have been three occasions in the gelding’s career where he has returned after a similar break and on two of those he has won. Midnight Shot will obviously be fresher than most here and the Charlie Longsdon stable does seem to enjoy success at this time of year.

Trainer Richard Woollacott enjoyed a fabulous day in the sun at Aintree recently when Lalor landed a Grade Two bumper. Now FLORESCO (Haydock, nap, 3.15) could emulate his stablemate by springing a surprise in the final of the Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series.

Admittedly, the first- time blinkers are going to need to improve the seven- year- old’s level of performance but the selection — who was only beaten six lengths in this event 12 months ago — is a better horse on faster ground, with his last two substandard displays put down to an easy surface.