William Haggas holds all the aces at Ascot, as Hamish and Tenability put their winning streaks on the line in the BetMGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes on Saturday.

Stable stalwart Hamish took his career tally to 14 at Chester last month and with the dry summer limiting the popular nine-year-old to just two appearances this season, conditions appear set to suit in Berkshire, as he attempts to reclaim the prize he won in 2022.

“I think it’s going to be soft enough for Hamish and they keep telling me they are going to get rain, so if they do it will be interesting,” said Haggas.

“He’s fine after his win last time, he just needs that bit of soft ground and Maureen is very happy with him.

“There are not many races he can run in, this is one and he’s penalty free, so he will have a good chance, but it’s a strong race.”

A field of five has assembled for the Group Three event in which Haggas is also keen to see how Tenability fares up in grade.

Although having plenty to find on official figures, the three-year-old arrives having won four on the bounce and his last three all at Ascot.

Haggas continued: “He’s classed as the outsider, so it looks a strong race. There’s only five of them but four are rated 110 or more and poor Tenability is only rated 100.

“He’s an improver, but he’s still only a young horse, a three-year-old. He’s a nice horse though who is doing well and it will be very interesting.

“I’m not sure if he likes going to Ascot, but he’s done very well there and we’ll see what he’s made of. Al Qareem will set a strong gallop and it will be interesting to see what happens.”

Connections of the aforementioned Al Qareem have fond memories of their visits to Ascot on this weekend and having decided against a tilt at the Prix du Cadran now go in search of a third straight success in this feature 12-furlong event after butting heads with some top stayers the last twice.

“He only ran in the Irish St Leger a couple of weeks ago so Karl (Burke, trainer) wouldn’t have needed to do much with him,” said Nick Bradley, managing director of owners Nick Bradley Racing.

“He’s six now and we know what we’re going to get from him 99 times out of 100.

“There are a lot of races for these horses at this time of the year, if you think there’s the Cadran, Royal-Oak, Long Distance Cup and we’ve not long had the Irish St Leger so hopefully we’re in one that is slightly easier and if he runs up to his best form hopefully he is there or thereabouts.”

Haggas also holds leading claims in the other Group Three event on the card, where progressive York Listed winner Elmonjed may have to tackle the slowest ground he has ever faced to continue his rise up the sprinting ranks in the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes.

“I’d be a little bit concerned about the ground for him if it does go soft as he won’t have encountered ground as soft as that,” explained Haggas.

“I want to run him and think he deserves a crack at a Group Three, but would be a little worried about the ground.

“He’s also shown his best form probably at York which is a Flat track and this will be a bit different but he’s a useful horse. If you can win those big handicaps there is not much of a gulf between that and a stakes race.”

Elmonjed will lock horns once again with Marco Botti’s course and distance winner Prince Of India who was a length adrift of his Somerville Lodge rival when third on the Knavesmire.

There is Listed sprinting action in the BetMGM Rous Stakes where two winners from Ayr’s Western meeting, Karl Burke’s Beautiful Diamond and Richard Spencer’s Candy, are among the leading names, while the BetMGM British EBF October Stakes sees 16 fillies do battle over seven furlongs for Listed honours.

It is a race that gives Ollie Sangster’s Flight the chance to bounce back to her best having so far failed to back up her length second to Desert Flower in the 1000 Guineas earlier in the year.

Sangster said: “She was a little disappointing the last day in the Atalanta (at Sandown), but it was her first day back after a good break since Royal Ascot and she has probably stepped forward for that.

“This is slightly calmer waters again and on ratings she should put up a good performance.

“There looks to be a bit of rain around which I don’t think would be a massive disadvantage and we’re also dropping back to seven furlongs.

“There’s a few changes, but she’s a filly who needs things to fall her way in order for her to put in her optimal performance and hopefully some of these changes will enable that to happen.”