I’m hoping the forecasters have been spot on with their predictions of plenty of rain for Haydock overnight.

If there’s firm in the going description, then it’s unlikely Mecca’s Angel will take her chance in the Temple Stakes – the big race of the day at Haydock.

It will be interesting to see how the track shaped up last evening and what the times were. But I would love to see her run as she hasn’t raced since winning the Nunthorpe in August.

She is flying at home, feels great and looks stronger and bigger around her shoulders. She has really developed and hopefully is at her peak now she is a five-year-old. We could not be happier with her.

It will be a proper test if she does line up. You’ve a Group One winner, Goldream, in the line-up, while Profitable was an impressive winner of the Palace House Stakes last month. That said, I wouldn’t swap mine for anything and Michael Dods’ horses are running well now, so I think we have every base covered.

If Mecca’s doesn’t run, then the pick of the rides at Haydock would be Lagenda, who runs in the Racing UK Now In HD Handicap.

Kevin Ryan’s three-year-old was an excellent fourth to Castle Harbour, who looks a future Group-race winner, in a very competitive handicap at York last week.

I kick off with Vive Ma Fille, who is top-rated in the GPW Recruitment Handicap. She was fifth in the Goodwood Cup last year and her run at Newmarket last Saturday will have put her spot on for this.

Her trainer Mark Johnston is hitting form and is also represented by Ode To Evening in the Silver Bowl Stakes. The three-year-old also has some top form in the book; just look at his fifth in the Coventry Stakes and narrowest of seconds in a Listed race at Lingfield in April. If he can reproduce that form, he’s going to be bang there.

I’m delighted to pick up the ride on the Roger Varian-trained Queen's Pearl in the EBF Stallions Cecil Frail Stakes. She will no doubt come on for her seasonal debut when ninth in a Listed race at Nottingham earlier this month and Roger’s horses are in good form.

Any rain will also suit Ocean Sheridan, who ran up a hat-trick in the soft for us last season. She’s hit the frame on her two starts this season and she will be a leading player in the Walsh IBS Handicap – providing she gets her ground.

The major race of the weekend is the Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas at The Curragh, which is being billed as a match between Galileo Gold, the winner of the English Guineas, and Air Force Blue, who was the red-hot favourite for the race.

I would take a chance on the Kevin Prendergast-trained Awtaad. He was most impressive in a Listed race at The Curragh and while this is a step up, he looks a class act and Kevin knows what it takes to win this race, although it was 40 years ago!

I’ve got a busy week coming up starting with a double-header at Ayr and Carlisle on Monday, but I am raring to go, after sitting out the last four days with a suspension for overusing my whip.

Every cloud has a silver lining and it allowed me to do the school run and spend some time with the family. It’s also given me some time to freshen up as I’d noticed I’d clocked up 4000 miles in my new car over the last three weeks!

It’s paying off though as I’ve made my best ever start to a season and we’ve got lots to look forward to – hopefully starting with Mecca’s Angel this weekend!

Paul is sponsored by Racing UK, which is showing all the quality action from the 2016 Flat season - and now live in HD. Visit racinguk.com/join for more