THERE are plenty of Irish runners in Britain on Saturday.

Trainer Evanna McCutcheon expects Maarek to be approaching his peak ahead of the totescoop6 Beverley Bullet Sprint. The eight-year-old has been a top sprinter for several seasons and can boast such notable races as the Prix de l’Abbaye, Duke of York Stakes and Qipco British Champions Sprint among his prized successes.

He does need soft ground to be seen at his absolute best and was having his first run since May when fifth to Mattmu in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month.

McCutcheon said: “When we have been able to get him out this season, he’s run very well. Seamie (Heffernan) got off him after the Phoenix and was very, very happy as he obviously needed the run. He was obviously a bit ring-rusty as it was his first start since May, so you’d like to think there’s a fair bit more to come.”

The Tom Hogan-trained Dikta Del Mar is the other Irish challenger and is no stranger to British action having finished third behind Katawi in a Listed contest at Ayr in June, although she disappointed at Glorious Goodwood.

Hogan has put a line through that run and can see his three-year-old putting in a decent bid after finishing third at Tipperary on her most recent outing.

“She didn’t seem to act at Goodwood (last in the King George Stakes) for whatever reason, but her run before that behind Stepper Point in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh was pretty good,” said the County Tipperary handler.

“She’s won before on soft ground so we wouldn’t be too concerned if they get more rain there.”

Fascinating Rock could earn himself a shot at a major autumn target if he can make a successful return in the Unibet Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor on Saturday evening.

Dermot Weld’s one-time classic hope made an excellent start to his four-year-old campaign, winning the Listed Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown and the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes at the Curragh before returning to the top level in the Tattersalls Gold Cup.

The son of Fastnet Rock turned in a career-best effort to finish a close second behind multiple Group One winner Al Kazeem, beating subsequent King George hero Postponed as well as top-class middle-distance performer The Grey Gatsby.

Fascinating Rock, whose late-season engagements include the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and the Champion Stakes at Ascot, makes his first appearance since that late-May Group One this weekend and must concede weight to each of his nine opponents.

Kris Weld, assistant trainer to his father, said: “He’s in good form and is well and enjoyed his summer break. This is a nice start back from his run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup and hopefully he’ll go well, although it’s looking a very strong renewal this year.”

Stable jockey Pat Smullen travels over for the ride and feels a reproduction of that excellent effort in the Tattersalls Gold Cup would make him hard to beat. “He’s in good form. It’s a lovely race the boss picked out for him and it just fits into his programme well,” Smullen told At The Races.