After a promising seasonal debut at the Merseyside track on Saturday, Adam West is thinking of quickly returning to Haydock with star sprinter Live In The Dream.
Last year's unexpected Nunthorpe hero made his first appearance since placing fourth at the Breeders' Cup in November, and he displayed all of his usual dash in the Group Two Temple Stakes until the Clive Cox-trained Kerdos prevailed in a close finish.
West was considering a run at the Coral Charge at Sandown on July 6 before defending his Nunthorpe crown at York the following month. However, the Epsom-based handler is now considering another run at Haydock on Saturday week. This was his original plan before the weekend.
“He was out in the sunshine yesterday and this morning and he looks fantastic. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season really,” he said. “I think Sean (Kirrane, jockey) showed a lot of maturity. He took him through the gears nicely and wasn’t hard on him, he just said in the last 50 yards he got a tiny bit leg weary, but he felt the best he’s ever felt and the maturity level of the horse has come on since last year, so we’re delighted. We’re still looking at Sandown, but we are going to throw a curveball in and look at the Achilles Stakes back at Haydock first. The dates have worked out so well for us and despite being a Group One winner in a Listed race, because the Nunthorpe was before the end of August he’s able to run, so it would be silly of us not to consider it. He’s run so well there on Saturday without being knocked about. The Coral Charge is about getting some confidence into him before the Nunthorpe, but we can go to the Achilles first, as I’d only be working him at home anyway. We’ll enter him and see what the ground is like.”