Battaash can cement his position as the best sprinter across Britain and Ireland in Saturday’s Armstrong Aggregates Temple Stakes at Haydock Park (4.00).

Charlie Hills’ four-year-old improved leaps and bounds last season, winning four times including seriously impressive displays at Sandown, Goodwood and finally Chantilly in the Prix de l’Abbaye, destroying a 13-strong field with blistering pace.

Now rated 123, he takes top rank amongst the sprinters with the only main concern being his temperament, having been very keen going down to the start earlier in his career and when meeting defeat at York back in August in the Nunthorpe.

Kachy – so good when winning at Chester earlier this month - could serve it up to Battaash, but I’m not convinced he’ll be able to live with Hills’ speed ball and he’ll take an awful lot of beating.

Regular readers will know I’m keen to back Tom Dascombe-trained handicappers at Haydock when Richard Kingscote is booked, with the system producing healthy level-stakes profits in the past four seasons.

There’s four qualifiers on Friday and the one that makes most appeal is Ginbar in the 188Bet Get20 Handicap (2.55).

The bay colt bolted up on his fourth start as a novice in September, before making a winning handicap debut off a mark of 80 at Chester under Nicky Mackay.

Back at Chester for his reappearance, a shocking draw in 12 at scuppered any chances of victory but the handicapper has eased him 2lb, a move which enables Ginbar to drop down to this class four event, which looks significantly weaker.

The three-year-old is unraced on good to firm, which is a slight concern, but he’s shown plenty of speed previously and with Kingscote in fine form (12 wins from last 50 rides) he can get his nose in front.

Mac O’Polo (1.50) and Admiral Spice (5.45) both represent the powerful duo but it’s hard to make a case for them on form and I’d sooner back No I’m Easy in the 188Bet Casino Handicap (4.40).

Well-touted by Dascombe in the build-up to Chester, the three-year-old was heavily backed for his handicap debut off 82 at Chester but was outpaced and ultimately finished sixth.

The form has received a boost since as fourth-placed Bungee Jump won at Chepstow on Tuesday while Harrogate – who No I’m Easy beat in a novice event at Thirsk last summer – won easily on handicap debut back at that track a fortnight ago.

No I’m Easy – eased 2lb also - drops into class four company and can back up the good impression he created as a juvenile.

The first Irish Classics of the season take place this weekend and Happily looks rock-solid in the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh on Sunday (4.10).

A winner of two Group 1s as a two-year-old, Happily emerged as Aiden O’Brien’s main contender in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and ran into a highly credible third of 15, unable to reach the unfancied yet impressive winner Billesdon Brook.