HATTON FLIGHT has been given the go-ahead to bid for compensation in Saturday’s bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock Park.

The Merseyside track hosts the first of its three days of top action this afternoon, but trainer Andrew Balding hopes Hatton Flight can make amends for his stumble and unshipping of William Buick when well fancied for the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot.

The five-year-old had notched up a hat-trick prior to that mishap with wins at Lingfield, Epsom and Newmarket.

He is 10-1 second favourite with William Hill and Stan James for Saturday’s 1m4f contest at Haydock.

Balding said: “He seems none the worse for his little jaunt round Ascot, so hopefully he’ll run on Saturday. It was unfortunate, but he seems in good form.”

Meanwhile Sir Michael Stoute has two entries, Harbinger and Saptapadi, as he looks for a second successive Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster.

In 34 years Stoute had failed to land the world’s oldest Classic, but Conduit finally ended the Newmarket trainer’s woes last September.

Saptapadi, who carries the colours of the Ballymacoll Stud the same as Conduit, and the lightly-raced Harbinger, an impressive winner at Chester’s May meeting were both among the 41 entries published yesterday for the Leger.

Harbinger is a 12-1 with most firms including the sponsors, who have Irish Derby runner-up Golden Sword as their 4-1 favourite.

Golden Sword is one of 15 entries from Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable. Harbinger’s owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing are taking it one step at a time. Managing director Harry Herbert said: “I saw Harbinger on Tuesday morning and he looked fantastic. At the moment, the plan is to run him in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood at the end of the month and take it one step at a time.”

TODAY’S NAP: Pride Of Kings (3.40pm Haydock).