Hughie Morrison is displaying his usual blend of cautious optimism as he prepares to unleash Sakhee's Secret in tomorrow's Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.
The lightly-raced and brilliant winner of the July Cup has been backed as if defeat is out of the question and he is as low as even-money favourite - 11-10 with the sponsors - for the six-furlong Group One contest.
However, not everything is in the chestnut's favour, as he has been given an apparently unfavourable draw in stall two.
‘We're very hopeful he'll replicate the form he showed in the July Cup,’ reported Morrison.
‘Obviously I gave him a bit of time off as this has always been the real target for him.
‘I suppose my only concern would be that I had him a little underdone.
‘Looking at it, I'd prefer not to be drawn two. But that's what we've got and that's sprinting - you can often be beaten by the draw.’
The drying conditions at Haydock have seen several of Sakhee's Secret's potential rivals drop out, such as Dutch Art and Soldier's Tale, and Morrison wonders whether a watering policy will have any effect.
He continued: ‘I'm not sure what the ground is, as they said they may have watered on Wednesday and Thursday. My only worry would be if the ground was false, as horses never let themselves down on false ground.
‘I hope he's in the same form (as before the July Cup). Steve Drowne came over to ride him last week and said he felt good.’
Red Clubs has made the frame in both the July Cup and the Nunthorpe this summer, and was only a length and three-quarters behind Sakhee's Secret in the former.
Barry Hills believes everything points to a big run and he will break from stall six under the trainer's son Michael.
Hills senior said: 'He is in very good order and I hope the ground is on the fast side.
‘He is drawn well, the course will suit and six furlongs suits him, too.
‘I do think he is better at six furlongs and I think he will run well, as he has done in all the big sprints.’
Asset is another who finished behind Sakhee's Secret in the July Cup by taking sixth, but trainer Richard Hannon is pleased with his draw in box 12.
Asset last chased home Tariq in the Betfair Cup and Hannon said: ‘He's been doing very well. It's certainly a nice draw. The ground will not be a worry to him at all and we're pretty hopeful.’
Ted Durcan will take the ride on the well-fancied Hellvelyn for Thirsk trainer Bryan Smart.
A classy sort as a juvenile, where his efforts included success at Royal Ascot as well as a close-up second to Holy Roman Emperor in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh, he reappeared in the July Cup where he caught the eye in eighth.
The grey built on that with a cosy success in a Listed event at Beverley over an inadequate five furlongs.
Durcan said: ‘It looks a wide-open race and we are entitled to be there. Mr Smart is delighted with him and he's really come on since Beverley.
‘He's still young, still progressing and has got a bright future whatever happens on Saturday.
‘He's got a really good chance but we wouldn't want any rain.’
Amadeus Wolf was third last year and came back to something like his best when seventh in the Nunthorpe.
He is one of three runners for Kevin Ryan in company with Assertive and Wi Dud.
Ryan said: 'All three of them are in good order and I'm very happy with them all.
‘I've had a good look at the ground and it couldn't be any better.
‘I don't think the draw will make any difference - they will probably all go up the middle and the best horse will win.’
He added of Amadeus Wolf: ‘I was delighted with his run at York as five furlongs is not his cup of tea these days.’
The potential joker in the pack is the French raider Marchand D'Or.
Fourth in the July Cup, he bounced back by landing the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest and his handler Freddie Head has been fairly bullish in recent updates.
