WE haven’t seen Castle Cove since he won the Virgin Bet November Handicap at Doncaster on this day last year, but he was seriously impressive then, and it may be that he will be able to cope with a handicap rating today that is 8lb higher than the mark off which he won the race last year.

Winner of a novices’ stakes on good to soft ground at Leicester on his racecourse debut as a three-year-old, William Haggas’ horse confirmed his ability to operate on soft ground when he won a handicap at Chester on his debut last season.