Western Mail

Ornate all set to dazzle at Haydock

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Oisin Murphy riding Looks A Million (right) win The British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies Novice Stakes at Sandown ORNATE can make the most of a drop to Listed class by opening his seasonal account in the 188bet.co.uk Achilles Stakes at Haydock.

Previously trained by William Haggas, Ornate’s statistics are not especially inspiring with just one win in 12 outings, but he appears to be running as well as ever for Robert Cowell this term.

Perhaps a change in scenery has refreshed his mindset as while he was beaten in handicap and conditions company towards the end of last term, he has been in there and punching at Group Three level this season.

It looked as though he might make his Pattern race breakthrou­gh in the Abernant on his seasonal bow, but he possibly did not quite see out the six furlongs as Brando swooped in the dying strides to claim a length victory.

That was a fine effort, though, and Ornate again deserved much credit when sixth behind Marsha in the Palace House last month, being beaten just three lengths by what appears to be an exceptiona­lly classy filly.

Ornate is probably just a shade below Group class, in all honesty, but sticking to five furlongs against lesser company on Merseyside, it will be disappoint­ing if he cannot make his presence felt.

Mr Khalid compromise­d his chance of victory by racing far too eagerly last time, but hopefully he should have learned his lesson ahead of the Bespoke Properties Handicap at Goodwood.

The four-year-old has clearly been far from straightfo­rward to train, winning by seven length on the second of his two juvenile starts for Marco Botti before a lengthy absence ensued.

Mr Khalid transferre­d to the care of Roger Charlton in the interim and the addition of a hood on his return from 18 months on the sidelines seemingly worked the trick as he scored at Windsor in April.

However, he raced prominentl­y from a wide position on his next start at Kempton and his early efforts told in the finish as he beat just one home over 10 furlongs.

Charlton has opted to switch up half a mile in trip and while the extra distance is not certain to suit, Mr Khalid is worth a shot, particular­ly if his rider can get him to cooperate.

Mittens hails from a fine Juddmonte family and she is the one to be on in the Farmer Butcher Chef Fillies’ Handicap.

She won at the second time of asking as a juvenile last term and looked booked for victory on her return at Pontefract, only to get run out of it in the final few yards.

Mittens found no extra under pressure that day but should surely progress from the run and seems more than capable of hitting the target from a mark of 80.

It is a big night for the hunter chase ranks at Stratford and Wonderful Charm

can claim top honours in the key event, the Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunters Champion Hunters’ Chase.

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