Rembrandt is in the frame at Haydock

racing: Van Rijn’s unbeaten run can be extended to four races

REMBRANDT VAN RIJN is a really likeable type from the David Lanigan yard and can stretch his unbeaten run this season to four in the Betfred Goals Galore Handicap at Haydock.

A gelding operation appears to have been the making of him and the official half-length verdict in his latest success at Sandown only tells part of the story, as he had to wait and weave in the straight and would have been a very unlucky loser.

That was off an 8lb higher mark than when impressing at Chester and he has 6lb more to shoulder this time, as the handicapper seeks to end his winning streak.

We might not have seen the absolute limit of his abilities yet, though.

It is very hard to get away from the chance of INTILAAQ in the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes.

Meanwhile, local trainer Lucy Normile, sends two runners to Ayr’s first August meeting – a seven-race card starting at 5.40pm, writes Louise

Armour.

Three times course and distance winner, ROYAL DUCHESS, has Megan Carberry back in the saddle, thanks to Sammy Jo Bell getting the call up for the Shergar Cup at Ascot with Cathy Gannon still on the sidelines through injury.

Carberry’s last ride on Royal Duchess was a winning one at Ayr on October 9 last year.

Since then, Royal Duchess, has never been out of the placings on her five other starts with a fourth, two wins at Ayr under Sammy Jo Bell, and a fourth and a second, most recently at Carlisle on 26 July 2015.

Carberry and Royal Duchess take on 11 other rivals in the 7f Handicap at 6.40pm.

Normille’s other runner, STROBE, with Joey Haynes in the saddle takes on eight rivals in the 1m 7f Handicap at 8.10pm. SELECTIONS: AYR: 5.40 Scrutiny, 6.10 Templier, 6.40 Echo Of Lightning, 7.10 Perfect Words, 7.40 Economic Crisis, 8.10 El Massivo, 8.40 Haymarket.

HAYDOCK: 1.50 Yourartisonfire, 2.20 REMBRANDT VAN RIJN (NAP), 2.55 Intilaaq, 3.25 Crowley's Law, 4.00 Wonder Laish, 4.35 Ballesteros, 5.05 Bronze Beau.

DOUBLE: Rembrandt Van Rijn and Scrutiny.