Mabs Cross takes another step up in class in the Group Two Armstrong Aggregates Temple Stakes at Haydock today – but she’s ready for it.

We have been delighted with her form this season. She should have won at Bath on her reappearance and the winner that day, Mrs Gallagher, has since won in Ireland, and then she flew home to win the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket on Guineas weekend.

She came out of that race really well and has done everything we’ve asked of her.

We realise this race will be a big test as it’s a great renewal with some proper speedsters, not least Battaash, probably the fastest of them all.

We’ll know where we are with her after this – providing the ground is not rattling quick.

She won on the fast side of good ground at Newmarket, but a couple of showers, which have been forecast, would take any sting out of the ground and improve her chance. The race is sponsored by her owner David Armstrong, so it would be extra special if we could win it.

I did give Marseille a good chance in the column when she ran at Thirsk this month, but the race happened a bit quickly for her and she’s crying out for this step up to six furlongs. You should see a much-improved showing in the Armstrongs Brinscall Quarry Supplying Sagrada Familia Handicap (5.10pm).

The other one I’ll pick out at Haydock is Simpson, trained by Ed Walker.

He didn’t run too badly in the Epsom Derby Trial, when coming fifth, and then was third when coming down in trip at Chester last time behind Another Batt. This step back up to a mile will be in his favour and he should enter your calculations in the Amix Silver Bowl Handicap (2.50pm).

I am in France tomorrow to ride Lord Yeats in the Group Two Prix Vicomtesse Vigier at ParisLongchamp.

He ran a very nice race on his seasonal debut to finish second to Order Of St George and prior to that he was fifth to the same horse in the Irish St Leger last season.

While there’s no Order Of St George in the field, there is Vazirabad, last seen winning on Dubai World Cup night, so it’s going to be a tall order, but hopefully we can finish in the money again.

Finally, I was delighted to ride a Listed race winner for Keith Dalgleish at Ayr on Wednesday night. Euro Nightmare was rated only 89 but defied her mark to win comfortably. We sat off the pace and she travelled through the race very nicely. This win was her first since July and hopefully will have filled her with confidence. She felt like a nice filly.

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