Maarek team seek sharper start Trainer Evanna McCutcheon is hoping the application of a blindfold will help Maarek jump off on terms as he bids to regain his crown in the Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot on Saturday. The seven-year-old showed a good attitude to claim the Group Two contest in 2012 and has since struck at Group One level in last year's Prix de l'Abbaye. He went back to Paris earlier this month, but completely blew the start, costing him all chance of a repeat success. McCutcheon is confident her stable star is returning to Berkshire at the top of his game and is anticipating a bold show - as long as he gets the start right. McCutcheon said: "He's actually been running well all year. The stalls have just been his bogey card. "We're going to do a bit of work on that before Saturday, but it's difficult as he's a horse who does nothing until he's in a race situation. "We're going to put a blindfold on him on Saturday, so we'll see if that makes a difference, but we won't know until he's in the stalls and the flag goes up. "We've booked Jamie Spencer to ride, so it's the same combination that won the race two years ago. "Hopefully we can get the same result."
