Ansgar starts back at Haydock Saturday Sabrina Harty believes Ansgar is stronger than ever ahead of his return to action in the Timeform Jury Stakes at Haydock on Saturday. The seven-year-old enjoyed a magnificent campaign in 2014, striking gold in the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh, the Supreme Stakes at Goodwood and the Park Stakes at Doncaster. The Group One Prix de la Foret proved a bridge too far on Arc day at Longchamp last October, but Harty could not be happier with her stable star ahead of his seasonal bow. "We're looking forward to getting started with him. He's got good and strong over the winter - he's a stronger horse than last year, for sure," said Harty. "I'm hoping for a bit of luck with the ground. Hopefully it stays good, decent ground, as he doesn't like it soft. "He'll come on for the run, but I'm hoping he's fairly straight. "It's very hard to plan with the weather and the ground, but all being well he'll go on to Royal Ascot after this." The Irish raider will have to concede weight to each of his 12 opponents on Merseyside, including the high-class Aljamaaheer. Roger Varian's charge drops in class and trip after finishing down the field in the Lockinge at Newbury and Angus Gold, racing manager for owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, is keeping his fingers crossed the six-year-old is on a going day. He said: " Things have got to go right for him. He was too far back in the Lockinge and never got into it, so the race didn't tell us anything. "He's not the most straightforward of horses and seems to find a way to get beaten more often than not, but he's certainly well capable." Top Notch Tonto has largely struggled since filling the runner-up spot in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in 2013 and also failed to make an impact in the Lockinge last time. His trainer Brian Ellison said: "I t was probably one of the toughest Lockinge's seen and he only got beat just over six lengths. "I do think there is a big one in him. I just think we suffered from running that great race two years ago at Ascot and last year he always had the penalties to carry. "It is going to be hard on Saturday, but he is in great form - his work the other day was brilliant. "He loves the training and going out in the morning. He just wants that bit of cut in the ground." Other contenders in a wide-open contest include David O'Meara's That Is The Spirit, a winner over the course and distance three weeks ago, the highly-tried Captain Cat from Roger Charlton's yard, David Simcock's Breton Rock and Charlie Hills-trained Lockinge fifth Cable Bay. "I am really pleased with Cable Bay. Seven furlongs should suit him well and I could not be more pleased with him," said Hills.
