Noble Style should be afforded one last chance as he steps back to Listed level in the Net World Sports Queensferry Stakes at Chester.
Winner of each of his three juvenile starts, culminating in the Gimcrack, Charlie Appleby's charge was viewed as a 2000 Guineas candidate through the winter, but a very average racecourse gallop in the spring somewhat tempered enthusiasm for his Classic challenge.
Far from disgraced in sixth behind Chaldean, Appleby felt his charge simply did not stay a mile, subsequently opting to drop back to six furlongs at Newbury as a prep for the Commonwealth Cup.
Shaquille emerged victorious that day though, and at Ascot the following month when he increased his margin of victory over Noble Style from three lengths to just short of eight, with cheekpieces making little impact on the Godolphin runner.
Noble Style has since been gelded and while it is hard to have a lot of confidence in the son of Kingman, his mark of 111 combined with his three-year-old allowance puts him well ahead of his rivals.
Valadero can finally get off the mark in the British EBF Ruby Anniversary Novice Stakes.
The Starspangledbanner colt cost E250,000 as yearling and his price tag ensured he was sent off favourite for the Brocklesby at Doncaster back in April.
He looked the winner everywhere but the line that day, with Doddie's Impact swooping late to grab a neck victory on ground that was really very deep.
Valadero was understandably sent off at a short price on his second start, only to find one too good again, while he bumped into 12-length winner Asadna at Ripon on his latest run when fourth.
Quicker ground did not appear to suit on that occasion and it is interesting he has been moved from Dominic Ffrench Davis to Darryll Holland in the interim.
His new handler is wasting no time stepping up in trip and given his pedigree, easier conditions combined with the extra furlong could work the oracle.
Staying will be the name of the game at Haydock with testing conditions anticipated and one horse who should be at home on that ground is Derry Lad.
He contests the Sky Bet Sunday Series Middle Distance Handicap for trainer Kevin Coleman having won another event in the competition at Pontefract on his latest run in June.
The five-year-old had Wootton'Sun back in second on that occasion, with the runner up giving the form a huge boost when landing the ultra-competitive Old Newton Cup on his next run.
He has 7lb more to shoulder but having won on soft as well as placing on heavy, he should not be troubled by conditions as he chases a bonus for Sunday Series wins.
Guinness Affair can rack up his hat-trick in the Illumina Diagnostics Novices' Handicap Chase at Market Rasen.
A 14-length winner on his second try over fences, he hit the target again at Newton Abbot last month, scoring by three lengths from a 7lb higher mark.
Raised another 4lb, that might not be enough to anchor him in what appears an average affair. - Press Association
SELECTIONS:
CHESTER: 15.00 Zivaniya, 15.30 Line Sheet, 16.05 VALADERO (NAP), 16.30 Noble Style, 17.08 Liamarty Dreams, 17.38 Flight Of Angels.
GALWAY: 14.50 Bal De Rio, 15.20 Summer Tide, 15.55 Saint Sam, 16.30 Vado Forte, 17.00 Dunum, 17.30 Stromberg, 18.00 Quantum Light, 18.30 Aurora Vega.
HAYDOCK: 16.45 Manila Scouse, 17.15 Forever Blue, 17.45 Illusionist, 18.15 Derry Lad, 18.45 Catena, 19.15 Iato's Angel, 19.45 Nobody Told Me.
MARKET RASEN: 14.35 John The Baptist, 15.10 Saint Jaguen, 15.45 Guinness Affair, 16.20 The Wrekin, 16.52 Due Reward, 17.22 Summergrounds, 17.52 Rhodia, 18.22 Dontmesswithme.