NOCTURNAL READY FOR YORK AFFAIR

Portland winner Nocturnal Affair goes for a second sprint handicap win in Yorkshire when he lines up for the Coral Sprint Trophy at York on Saturday.

The Irish raider delivered the goods in style at Doncaster last month and County Tipperary trainer David Marnane has high hopes of another successful mission on the Knavesmire.

The South African import was only having his second run since joining Marnane via a spell in Dubai, so his new handler is hoping there is still more to come from the five-year-old.

"We had planned to keep him for a Listed race a Dundalk, but it's a good pot so it's worth going for," said Marnane.

"He only went up 4lb and I thought he idled a little bit in front at Doncaster that day.

"He's in great form, he travelled over really well.

"He's got a good enough draw (seven) - the speed horses seem to be around us - so we've got our fingers crossed.

"Hopefully he's still got some improvement in him. It was only his second race for us at Doncaster and he's still pretty unexposed at this sort of trip."

The in-form Internationaldebut bids to complete a four-timer within the space of five weeks.

Since striking over this course and distance, Paul Midgley's six-year-old stalwart has gone on to win at Doncaster and Beverley.

"He's in good form and everything has gone to plan since he ran at Beverley," said the North Yorkshire trainer.

"He's in good order so it's a case of fingers crossed."

Brian Gubby is delighted Silvestre de Sousa is aboard Son Of A Cat again after steering the five-year-old into a creditable third place in the Ayr Gold Cup when the going was too testing.

"The ground was just a little bit too heavy for him at Ayr but he ran a blinder," said the Surrey owner-trainer.

"Silvestre rode him in Scotland and is on him again. He liked him when he finished second behind him at Goodwood.

"He said there was no way he was going to catch him that day (on Confessional) so his agent rang for the ride at Ayr.

"He's well, but it is a worry this time of year as you never know if they've gone over the top until they get there.

"He's gone up there the day before as he's not the best of travellers and we're looking forward to a good run."

Trainer Jonathan Portman is hoping Joe Packet will show no ill effects from his good effort last Saturday when he was fifth to Pastoral Player in a valuable handicap over seven furlongs.

"He seems to have come out of his race last weekend well. I know it's a bit soon but his season is coming to an end, so we thought we'd give it a go," said the Berkshire trainer.

"He has a lot of weight to carry and I think six and a half furlongs is probably his best trip on the ground he's going to get.

"He probably would have got the seven at Ascot if we'd been able to cover him up a bit more, but he was always just a bit too handy to get that trip.

"He still ran a cracker."

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