Decree waits on weather

Alan Swinbank has admitted that Formal Decree will have to put up a career best performance if he is to win Saturday’s totesport.com Stakes at Haydock.

The former Lynda Ramsden inmate has improved out of all recognition this season and after racing off a mark of 70 on his first run for Swinbank, he will be off a perch of 97 at the weekend.

He also has a six length verdict over the improving Road To Love to his name and his Melsonby-based handler is hoping there is more to come from the son of Diktat.

“We’ll probably declare him but the thing is we are waiting on the weather, said Swinbank.

“He’ll need a good drop of rain to run.

“We’ve got runners at Haydock on Thursday so we’ll be able to see what the ground is like then.

“This 48-hour declaration is a bit of a mix-up. The only benefit I have seen so far is that it makes it easier to organise staff.

“It will be a tough race, that is for sure. It’ll be the toughest assignment of his career.

“But, if he’s going to be a top horse he’s going to have to win races like that.

“He’s gone up 20lbs in just three runs, but the Road To Love form at Pontefract is looking pretty handy now.”