Lynam hopeful Duff can step up Edward Lynam admits that Duff faces a stern challenge in Sunday's Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin. The six-year-old has won his last two starts at a lower level but is worryingly unplaced on all three attempts at Group One level. "The horse is very fresh and well and is in excellent form. He has trained good, his weight is good," said Lynam. "He is in a good race, but he is in good form and hopefully he will perform and give 100%. But this is the big step up. "He has won four Listed, two Group Threes and a Group Two, he is very good in that league, but this is a big step up and this is his biggest hill to climb. "His best run in Group One company was when he was fourth in the National Stakes to George Washington at The Curragh in 2005. He also performed OK at Ascot in the Golden Jubilee in June but the day he ran in France last year he didn't perform on soft ground." The Sha Tin surface on Sunday will offer Duff faster ground for Fran Berry to challenge from stall six with Alexandros, Pressing and Good Ba Ba drawn to his outside. "I am happy with the draw. Egyptian Ra will still lead even though he is drawn 14. We will just sit him in where he is happy," added Lynam. "He is not a hold up horse, but he can be sat in third or fourth, fourth or fifth, it's just if he is good enough."
