HAYDOCK racegoers should be able to applaud a class act tomorrow (Saturday).

Nayef, who turns out for the Rose of Lancaster Stakes, had such a high reputation as a two-year-old, following a couple of gilt-edged efforts, that he was made winter favourite for the 2000 Guineas and the Derby.

Yet, well into the second half of the season, he is still searching to recapture that sparkling juvenile form.

Useful break

In fact, he didn't even line up for the Derby after his Guineas flop when he was only 10th behind Golan, at which point his trainer, Marcus Tregoning, decided it was time to take a mid-season break.

And the holiday seemed to have done Nayef a power of good as he was a respectable third to new St Leger favourite Alexius at Goodwood last week.

That was more like his old form and, with no worries about the sticky ground, he is taken to break his duck for the season.

The Coral Eurobet Handicap, the second race on Channel 4, presents a much more difficult puzzle for punters with a host of sprinters ready to contest one of the most open races of the day.

Only two favourites have won in the last 10 years and this trend could be continued with the vote going to a horse yet to score in eight attempts this season.

Strong in defeat

Henry Hall has run some cracking races in defeat, notably when fourth behind Corridor Creeper at Ascot on July 14 when Brave Burt came second.

These two rivals are likely to turn out again with Brave Burt, trained by sprint King David Nicholls, strongly fancied to come out best of the trio.

But that fact will be represented in his odds and Henry Hall, who didn't have the greatest of luck in running on a return trip to Ascot last weekend, could come in at a juicy price.

It was obvious that High Pitched found the ground too firm when finishing last of three on his home track, Newmarket, last time.

Conditions here, though, should be much more to his liking and it would be a surprise if Henry Cecil's colt did not chalk up the first win of his brief career in the opening race.

Cecil's season has hardly been one to shout about so far but this horse could make up into a useful stayer and turn the tide.