LANCELOT CAN SLAY RIVALS

Lancelot Du Lac can get back to winning ways on an all-weather surface at Chelmsford tomorrow after coming unstuck on rain-softened turf at Doncaster.

Dean Ivory’s evergreen sprinter could not quicken up in his usual manner in last month’s Cammidge Trophy, although he was not disgraced in finishing fourth behind Perfect Pastures.

Having won earlier in March at Wolverhampton, Lancelot Du Lac is clearly in good form and can lift the Betsi Conditions Stakes for which he is top-rated.

Robert Cowell had Raucous in that race but has declared him instead for the Santander Consumer Handicap over the same six-furlong trip.

The five-year-old shaped well when fifth at Kempton on his first start since leaving the William Haggas stable and sprint king Cowell can work his magic on the son of Dream Ahead.

Both Alfa McGuire’s victories as a two-year-old came at Beverley and the Bryan Smart-trained colt can continue the trend when he makes his seasonal debut at the East Yorkshire track in the Alan McGuinessAndRobinLunness Memorial Handicap.

This Class Three event is a big drop from the Group One Racing Post Trophy he contested on his final start last term when he was 10th of 12 behind Saxon Warrior. This is a more realistic assignment.

Dark Devil cut no ice in the consolation race for the Lincoln at Doncaster last month but the ROA/Racing Post Owners Jackpot Handicap will be more up his street.

Richard Fahey’s grey is in a grade in which he was last successful at Chester in September.

Mixboy can give connections a boost ahead of a possible tilt at the Chester Cup with a victory in a different discipline in the Making Memories Handicap Chase at Perth.