Buick has high hopes for Creative Force

Jockey William Buick is hopeful his ride Creative Force can show his full potential and challenge Starman for the Betfair Sprint Cup on Saturday.

Creative Sprint was beaten by Starman in the Darley July Cup earlier this season before missing out by a neck in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

Buick is fully aware of Starman's ability but is hopeful the Charlie Appleby-trained Creative Force can spring a surprise.

He said: "We are on course for the Sprint Cup at the weekend and he has done nothing wrong all season. I'm very much looking forward to riding him again on Saturday.

"Starman is a good horse and we are having to take him on again but hopefully, we can close the gap a little bit with him this time round.

"It has not really surprised us what he has done this season because he ran in the Coventry Stakes as a two-year-old. He has always been held in high regard but he is just a lovely horse to be around."

Prince Of Arran ready to go again

Trainer Charlie Fellowes believes Prince Of Arran is in great shape ahead of a fourth and final shot at the Melbourne Cup.

Questions were raised after some disappointing outings at the start of the year and there were some suggestions of possible retirement.

But with a warm-up run in the September Stakes at Kempton on Saturday, Fellowes feels the eight-year-old is looking in good shape ahead of possibly one last crack at the Melbourne Cup.

He said: "He ran two huge races in Australia last year and didn't win either of them. He was bitterly unlucky both times.

"In the Caulfield Cup, he had a shocker of a draw and then in the Melbourne Cup; he got caught in a pocket at the worst possible time."

Fellowes added: "Jamie Spencer sat on him on Saturday, having ridden him in the spring, and he genuinely couldn't believe the difference in him. 

"He said he feels like a two-year-old again. He's much happier and more enthusiastic."

Meade happy to wait on Helvic Dream call

Handler Noel Meade is happy to wait and consider his options before the next outing for Helvic Dream.

The talented runner has not been out since victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May.

Meade feels the four-year-old is in good shape and is in no frame of mind to rush a return if the conditions are not suitable.

He said: "We are waiting on soft ground but he wouldn't be ready until the middle of September.

"He's entered in the Irish Champion Stakes. But to be honest, I don't really think that's realistic with the ground and the likely quality of the field.

"However, if the ground did come up soft, he could run in it. The plan is to go for the Prix Dollar at Longchamp on Arc weekend and then if it came up soft, we might have a crack at the English Champion Stakes. He's in great form."