Irish trainers eye Haydock The Group Two 188bet Sandy Lane Stakes looks likely to feature a strong Irish challenge at Haydock on Saturday. Aidan O'Brien has entered Washington DC and Waterloo Bridge, while Jim Bolger's Smash Williams and the Tommy Stack-trained Diamond Fields could help form a strong raiding party. Should Gifted Master line up in the 6f contest, he will bid to extend his winning streak to six. Hugo Palmer's gelding has notched two Group Three victories already and has been in imperious form so far this season. Buratino, who disappointed in the Qipco 2000 Guineas, looks like reverting to sprinting. His trainer Mark Johnston also has Riflescope pencilled in for the race. William Haggas has two possibles in Greenham Stakes winner Tasleet and Gimcrack scorer Ajaya, with Donjuan Triumphant, a Group Two winner at Maisons-Laffitte in October, being Richard Fahey only representative. Among others in a quality entry are Karl Burke's Quiet Reflection, the Richard Hannon-trained pair of King Of Rooks and Log Out Island and Martyn Meade's unbeaten colt Aclaim.
