ROBIN BASTIMAN is hopeful popular veteran Borderlescott can take his chance in Saturday’s Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.
The eight-year-old was expected to have run his last race this year when injured, while winning the King George Stakes at Goodwood at the end of July.
But the dual Nunthorpe Stakes winner recovered to line up on the Knavesmire last month for his hat-trick bid.
He ran well enough but could only finish sixth to shock 100-1 winner Sole Power.
His Wetherby handler wasn’t entirely happy with his charge’s well-being in the week after, but recent homework has been encouraging.
Borderlescott is a 12-1 chance with Ladbrokes, Coral and Victor Chandler for Haydock’s Group One feature.
And Bastiman said: “He seems okay, we are just having a final blood test on him but he has been cantering and doing some half-speed work. It was just a bit of a muddling race at York.
“I don’t think he would have won anyway but he didn’t get the best of runs.
“He has come out of it well though, the sun is still shining and he still seems well in himself, so if the blood reports are right then he will go to Haydock.
“This race will tell us if he is well enough to go for the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp (October 3), which will be his last run of the season.”
Equiano is another who ran down the field in the Nunthorpe, but will bid for compensation at Haydock on Saturday.
The five-year-old had previously won the King’s Stand Stakes before finishing second to current Haydock favourite Starspangledbanner in the July Cup.
He finished last of 12 on the Knavesmire and Charlie Hills, son and assistant to trainer Barry, is hoping he can bounce back at the weekend.
Hills said: “We were very confident ahead of the Nunthorpe, but he ran a pretty bad race. He has come out of it okay.
“He is moving well and there are no explanations for it really, but there were a lot of horses that didn’t run up to form in that particular race.
“He is happy, has eaten up and done everything that we have asked him to do. We are looking forward to the race as he has been an ultra-consistent performer this season and if he runs how he has been running all year, then he is bang there with a chance.”
Meanwhile Richard Hannon will leave it as late as possible before deciding where Paco Boy will run this weekend. The dual Group One winner could line up at Haydock for the six-furlongs Sprint Cup or head to France for the one-mile Prix du Moulin at Longchamp.
Hannon said: “It will be one or the other and we will see what the ground and likely opposition is at both courses before making up our minds. I would prefer to go to France unless the ground came up as soft as it was at Deauville, but the owners (Calvera Partnership) would rather have a crack at Haydock.
“People have made a lot of Paco Boy finishing only fourth in the July Cup the last time he tackled six furlongs, but he was all at sea in the dips at Newmarket and flew home when he met the rising ground.
“He’d be much better suited by Haydock and with 8mm of rain forecast up there for Friday and Saturday, the ground should be fine.”
HAYDOCK DETAILS: The first race on Saturday is at 2pm. Gates open at 12pm. Admission into the Newton Enclosure is £11; it's £20 into Tattersalls; £34 into the County Enclosure; and £45 into the Premier Enclosure. Accompanied children aged under 18 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification, enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price. More details are available at web site www.haydock-park.co.uk.
TODAY’S NAP: Dhan Dhana (4.30pm Brighton).
