VARIAN MULLING ELZAAM RUN

Roger Varian will continue to monitor Elzaam's progress before committing him to a run in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock on September 3.

Since impressing in a Newbury Listed event in May, the three-year-old has run a creditable fourth in the Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot and finished a fair eighth in the July Cup.

He could get another chance to claim Group One glory on Merseyside next month if pleasing his trainer over the next couple of weeks.

"He's done well and he ran two big races at Ascot and in the July Cup. He certainly wasn't disgraced," said Varian.

"The muddling pace at Newmarket didn't suit him and it's a credit to him that he still ran four lengths off the winner.

"It's a good possibility he'll go to Haydock. We've got a few weeks to go and he'd have to be pleasing us at home if he's going to take his chance, but he's in the race and a flat six furlongs might bring out the best in him."

Another Varian inmate who could be Group One-bound is unbeaten filly Nahrain, although the trainer has yet to identify a specific target.

"She's been great for us this year, winning three races and we're really pleased with how she's progressed," Varian told At The Races.

"After winning at Sandown, she was just very light in body and frame and I just felt she needed an easy month through July if we were going to get the full year out of her and get her to see the autumn out.

"So she's had an easy few weeks and she's back in canter work now. I'm not quite sure where she'll be out next, but hopefully there's a bit more to come from her."

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