Tim Easterby put himself in the right frame of mind for Saturday's tilt at Haydock's big race as he took his seasonal tally to 50 at Ripon yesterday.

The trainer reached the notable landmark when Samadilla took the Steve Nesbitt Challenge Trophy.

Now Easterby is eagerly looking forward to the Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup where Pipalong will try to take the Group One prize.

He has been given a sneak preview about conditions at Haydock from the racecourse chairman Bill Whittle, the owner of Samadilla.

''Bill tells me there is cut in the ground at the moment and that will be ideal for Pipalong. I just hope it stays that way,'' said Easterby.

The filly did well to finish third in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York last week on fast ground.

''She's in good shape and it should be an exciting race. If the ground stays on the soft side then I think Lincoln Dancer will be the biggest danger,'' said Easterby.

Samadilla, the first horse owned by Whittle, notched her second success when defeating Dancing Penney by a neck.

The victory was especially sweet for winning rider Kevin Darley as his closest pursuer in the jockeys' title race, Pat Eddery, could finish only fifth on the even-money favourite Ridge Runner.

The filly had been beaten on her last two outings but Easterby said: ''I ran her in the wrong race the first time and then her saddle slipped last time but she still ran a good race.''

Richard Quinn, in danger of losing touch with Darley and Eddery, pulled one back when Andromedes, his only mount of the day, triumphed in the Tote Exacta Handicap.

Andromedes had an awkward head-carriage but Quinn's firm handling ensured a three-parts of a length verdict over Mini Lodge.

This was only the second handicap victory of the season for out-of-sorts trainer Henry Cecil.

Quinn said: ''He was still running a bit green. He's only lightly-raced and I'm sure he can improve on this.''

There was more disappointment for favourite-backers as Proud Boast was overturned by Reel Buddy in the Claro Conditions Stakes