Fallon can get the best out of Louis The Pious at Haydock

Haydock provides some excellent racing to complement the action at Sandown with the Lancashire Oaks and Old Newton Cup taking star billing. The 2.20 race features a small but closely matched field of six in the Bet365.com Conditions Stakes.

Kieren Fallon has been in the headlines this week following his controversial sacking from riding for one of Luca Cumani’s leading owners. He has some interesting rides on the card including the favourite Opinion in the Old Newton Cup for Sir Michael Stoute.

The Irishman teams up with David O’Meara’s Louis The Pious here and he must have a leading chance. The gelding finished down the field at Royal Ascot last time out but had previously been a shade unlucky when sixth to Mass Rally at York.

The form of that race received a boost when the runner-up York Glory went on to win the Wokingham. Lious The Pious has won on all types of ground and must have a chance of returning to winning ways on Saturday.

The likely favourite is Masamah who has been tried at the highest level of the past couple of seasons. The grey was not disgraced when beaten four lengths into seventh in the Temple Stakes here in May.

The big question mark for Masamah is whether he will stay the six furlongs. The small field will probably give him a chance but he has not won over this trip since 2010.

Dubawi Sound is another who has been highly tried and finished third at Meydan in February. He made no show under a big weight at Ascot on his return but should strip fitter here.

The three-year-olds Annunciation and Superboot have it to do on official ratings but Richard Hannon’s colt won a decent handicap at Doncaster in March and could pose a threat. Addictive Dream represents sprint specialist Dandy Nicholls and would have a chance if fit enough on his return from Dubai.