Nagle hoping for a place

Connections of Wizz Kid are hoping concerns about her journey from France prove ill-founded ahead of the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot on Saturday.

The four-year-old filly can be a poor traveller, but she was able to run her race 12 months ago when second to Deacon Blues and returns to Berkshire on the back of a storming Group One success nearer home.

That came in the Prix de l'Abbaye, where she pounced late to pip July Cup hero Mayson in the five-furlong dash on Arc day at Longchamp.

"She is great and we hope she can run as good a race as last year when she went very close and was second," said trainer Robert Collet's wife Micheline.

"The filly is in good condition after the Abbaye and the ground is perfect for her. The unique point always with her is travel.

"Sometimes she does not travel well. If she travels well, she will run well. She is due in Ascot on Friday evening."

Edward Lynam is just pleased to get Slade Power back on the track after the progressive three-year-old had to miss the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock last month after suffering a minor setback.

"He's in good form. Obviously things haven't gone to plan and we didn't get to run him in Haydock," said the County Meath trainer.

"We've done our best to get him as ready as we can. Whatever he does tomorrow will be a bonus. He's a next year horse, but he's a fresh horse coming into the race and we're happy with him.

"Hopefully he'll run a good race."

Maarek also carries Irish hopes and David Nagle's tough campaigner should relish conditions.

The five-year-old was in action only last Sunday when second to Katla at odds-on at the Curragh.

"The race last week didn't really work out to suit us. They didn't go fast enough," said Nagle.

"He seems in good form and there's no reason not to run him. He'll love the ground and it would be great if he could get placed.

"He's been super this year. He's run nine times and won plenty of prize money."

Society Rock gained a second Group One success in the Betfred Sprint Cup after landing the Golden Jubilee Stakes over this course and distance in 2011.

The five-year-old's trainer James Fanshawe took this prize 12 months ago with Deacon Blues when Society Rock was only 12th.

"He's been in good form and he's come out of the Sprint Cup in good form. He seems nice and bright," the Newmarket handler told BCSTV.

"He won the Golden Jubilee last year and then ran a really good race in the Prix Maurice de Gheest.

"I think that was the end of him after that, as he missed the break at Haydock and then with his record at Ascot, I ran him in the 2011 Qipco Sprint behind Deacon Blues and hopefully he will be in better form this year."

The Richard Hannon-trained Libranno was third last year and has been running chiefly over seven furlongs, including when unplaced in the Challenge Stakes at Newmarket last weekend.

"Libranno will be one of the outsiders, but he was a 25-1 shot last year and ran a stormer to finish third, only a neck behind Wizz Kid, who is second-favourite," the Herridge trainer told www.richardhannonracing.co.uk.

"Granted, the ground will be a lot softer, but he owes us nothing and he certainly has what it takes to finish in the money again."

Elusivity has competed in most of the big sprints all season and his trainer Brian Meehan believes the four-year-old will not be disgraced.

"High-class sprinter has been running well against some of the best since his last win on Newmarket's July Course," the Manton handler told www.brianmeehan.co.uk.

"He copes with the likely testing going and will not be disgraced in this elite company."

Clive Cox is worried the ground might be too soft for Jimmy Styles, but reports the eight-year-old in top shape after his latest success at Deauville in August.

"He definitely performs well at Ascot, but I'm a little bit concerned the ground is a little bit easier than ideal for him," said the Lambourn trainer.

"He's enjoyed a wonderful season and his last win in France was very pleasing - the formlines through that prove he's as good as ever."

Eve Johnson Houghton expects The Cheka to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Ayr Gold Cup.

"He's in great form, but I think he just had something on him at Ayr and he was a bit dull for a few days," said the Blewbury trainer.

"He's reunited with Neil Callan and they have never been out of the first two together.

"I think he'll run a big race."

Hawkeyethenoo was also down the field at Ayr, but the Stewards' Cup winner has been pleasing his trainer Jim Goldie in the run-up to this race.

"We've freshened him up after the Ayr Gold Cup. I'd have preferred it not to have rained as much but the forecast is for it dry up a bit," said the Glasgow trainer.

"I'm looking forward to it. It's a tough race, but he likes Ascot."