Noseda on weather watch

Jeremy Noseda is wary of potential rain scuppering the chances of Strike The Deal in Saturday’s Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.

One of a handful of three-year-olds in the Group One dash, the chestnut will need to step up from two reasonable efforts in lower grade events over the last couple of months and has his best form on a quicker surface.

“I just hope it doesn’t rain too much,” said the Newmarket trainer.

“He needs the ground to be faster but I heard a weather forecast today, and that looked pretty poor.”

Richard Hannon could run Assertive but his son and assistant Richard jnr is not too hopeful of shaking up the principles.

Their charge won the Duke Of York Stakes in May but has finished down the field on his two most recent starts.

“He could well run, but I expect he’ll be struggling again in a Group One race,” Hannon jnr reported.