Affair looking to book Ascot ticket Nocturnal Affair bids to book his ticket to Royal Ascot with a good run in the Mere Golf Resort & Spa Achilles Stakes at Haydock on Friday. The seven-year-old holds an entry in the King's Stand Stakes at the Royal meeting later this month and delighted his trainer David Marnane with an encouraging comeback run at the Curragh two weeks ago. Nocturnal Affair was a close seventh to Hitchens in the Greenlands Stakes after being sidelined through injury since running Balmont Mast to a length at Dundalk in October. "I was delighted with his comeback run. He would have needed it and it should have left him fairly right," said the County Tipperary handler. "He was coming off an injury and six months off. His form with Balmont Mast has worked out well and his form has been good all along really. "We were delighted with his run in the Curragh and he was only beaten two and three-quarter lengths. The second horse (Reply) has come out and won since. "It's a tough race, a Listed race, but he's in good nick and it's fingers crossed. I'm hoping he's going to Ascot for the King's Stand so he has to show up at Haydock and run a good race to warrant a trip there."
