Nocturnal set for Listed test Portland winner Nocturnal Affair will step out of handicap company for the Listed Mercury Stakes at Dundalk on Friday night. David Marnane's South African import will be pressed back into action quickly following his dead-heat fifth behind Sirius Prospect in the Coral Sprint Trophy at York. Among his potential rivals in the five-furlong all-weather event are Mark Johnston's Rockingham Stakes winner Bannock and three other juveniles who receive a healthy weight allowance. "Nocturnal Affair, ranked the highest horse of the home-trained brigade on a mark of 105, returned from York in good order and has pleased us all since," Marnane told his website. "His work has been solid and he remains in good condition despite his forays across the Irish Sea for two tough races in hotly contested sprint handicaps, since making his Irish debut in late August. "We're hopeful he'll handle the Polytrack (on) Friday night, as the surface is similar to Meydan's Tapeta where he put up a couple of respectable efforts earlier in the year at the Dubai Carnival."
