VANDEEK is a worthy favourite for the Group 2 Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock this afternoon.

The Crisfords’ horse was four for four last season as a juvenile. Winner of his maiden at Nottingham on his first run, and winner of the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood on his second, he just got up to beat Ramatuelle in the Group 1 Prix Morny Stakes at Deauville in August, and Ramatuelle ran a massive race in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket three weeks ago, doing best by far of the fillies who raced handily.

Also, back in third that day was River Tiber, winner of the Coventry Stakes on his previous run and second favourite for this afternoon’s Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas.

Those three runs were all on ground that was official described as good to soft or softer, so Vandeek should be fine under today’s conditions. He he did put up the best performance of his career to date on his final run last season, when he won the Middle Park Stakes on good to firm ground, the fastest ground on which he has raced.

Potential weaknesses? He is all speed, he was never really considered to be a Guineas horse, not in the latter stages of his two-year-old season anyway, always a Commonwealth Cup horse, and, despite his form on easy ground, there is a chance that today’s easy terrain may not play to his strengths.

Also, this is his seasonal debut, his first run since the Middle Park in September. You have to think that the Commonwealth Cup is his primary objective, that today’s run will bring him forward with Royal Ascot in mind.

Over-priced

Esquire looks over-priced against him. David O’Meara’s horse didn’t make his racecourse debut until last September, when he won his maiden on easy ground at Hamilton.

Stepped up in grade into a listed contest at York, the Rockingham, just three weeks later, he put up a good performance in finishing second to Purosangue, a proven 104-rated colt who was racing for the sixth time.

Esquire just gave best to Andrew Balding’s horse close home, with the pair of them coming nicely clear of their rivals.

Esquire stepped up to seven furlongs on his debut this season for the Greenham Stakes, and he was impressive in winning the Guineas trial. He travelled well through his race that day and he picked up smartly, leaving the impression that he was winning with a little more in hand than the bare winning margin.

He should come forward for that run and, by Harry Angel out of an Oasis Dream mare, he shows lots of pace, he shouldn’t mind the drop back to six furlongs.

An ability to stay further than today’s trip could be a big asset to take into the race on the testing ground, which he handles. He is more experienced now than he was when he met Purosangue last season, he may exact his revenge now on Andrew Balding’s horse, and he looks over-priced.

Silver Bowl

Nellie Leylax looks over-priced too in the opening contest at Haydock, the Betfred Silver Bowl. Tom Dascombe’s horse is at his best on soft ground at Haydock, and he will have those conditions today.

An ability to operate on soft ground at Haydock is a big asset to take back to soft ground at Haydock. Nellie Leylax has run twice at Haydock on ground that has been officially described as soft or softer, and he has won both times.

Winner of a handicap over seven furlongs at the Lancashire track last August off a mark of 83, he probably put up the best performance of his career on his debut this season, when he landed a 0-90 three-year-olds’ handicap over today’s course and distance.

He made all the running that day. Pierre-Louis Jamin bounced him out of the gate and got him settled nicely in front. He travelled best of all to the three-furlong marker and, when his rider asked him to pick up on the run to the two, the Calyx gelding picked up smartly.

He was going away from his closest pursuer Aragon Castle on the run to the line, with the pair of them coming eight lengths clear of their other rivals.

He did well to win as well as he did. The sectionals tell you that he didn’t have a particularly easy time of it on the front end.

The handicapper raised him by 5lb for that win to a mark of 92, and that was fair. He could have got more. He is obviously up in grade here, but he continues to progress. That last run was a career-best performance, and it was his seasonal debut and his first run since being gelded.

Also, it was his first run over a mile, and he saw out the distance well. There is every chance that he will come forward again for it, back at Haydock, back on soft ground at Haydock. And his draw in stall two today is a positive, given his forward-going style of racing.

One of Donn’s two recommended bets last week was King’s Gambit at 9/2, impressive winner of the London Gold Cup at Newbury.