O'Donoghue delight at chance

Jockey Colm O'Donoghue is relishing the opportunity to team up with Starspangledbanner in a race for the first time at Haydock on Saturday.

O'Donoghue rides the Australian import everyday on the gallops at Aidan

O'Brien's Ballydoyle stables, but he has now been handed the reins for the Betfred Sprint Cup as Johnny Murtagh is in action for the trainer at Leopardstown.

"I sit on him at home every day. He knows me better then I know myself!" said O'Donoghue.

"I'm delighted to get the ride and so happy that the boss has given me the chance. It's a great race and he's a very good horse.

"He's proved he's probably the best sprinter around. The field he beat in Royal Ascot was amazing. They were some of the best sprinters around in the world at that time.

"We've got masses of respect for the opposition. There are good horses like Regal Parade, who has been in great form, and it's never going to be easy."

One of those looking to outdo O'Donoghue and his mount is Lady Of The Desert who tries her hand at sprinting after not quite making the grade against the best of her generation and sex over a mile.

Brian Meehan's charge ran well despite finishing out of the frame in the French 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes on her last two starts.

"She's got plenty to do against these top sprinters, but she's running over six furlongs and we believe she's definitely a sprinter. She didn't stay in the spring," explained Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Jaber Abdullah.

"This is the only real race to bring her back in after the summer. This is a find-out mission.

"I'm sure she's a sprinter, but whether she's quite good enough with these we don't know."

Bastiman pleased with Borderlescott

Meanwhile, Robin Bastiman is of the opinion that Borderlescott may have needed his run in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York two weeks ago following his injury scare after winning at Glorious Goodwood.

The Wetherby trainer reports his ever popular eight-year-old stable star to be in tip-top form as he makes his first appearance in this race, though he is a Haydock regular and a course and distance winner.

"He's really well in himself. I just wish it was the Nunthorpe tomorrow instead of this race," stated Bastiman.

"He was stood in his box for a week after Goodwood. I only had two weeks to prepare him for York and maybe it wasn't long enough.

"He's very well in himself now and we are really pleased with him and we are looking forward to it.

"We nearly put him in this race last year so I thought I'd put him in this time. He keeps his form at this time of year and seems well. We are hoping for the best and I'm sure he'll run his best.

"The ground should be good and that would be ideal for him."