Silvestre De Sousa shaping up for Hamilton high

De Sousa is teaming up more and more with Middleham trainer Mark Johnston, who provided him with both of his Royal Ascot winners, and the partnership is blossoming.

Johnston's Circle Of Angels has the look of a good thing in the Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Handicap after her most impressive victory over course and distance earlier this month.

Her debut at Beverley was only average, but she was a well-backed winner of a nine-furlong maiden next time out. The handicapper has given her an initial rating of 75 and although she must have been a difficult one to assess, Circle Of Angels could be well treated.

There is a chance first-time blinkers will work the oracle for the Johnston-trained Carrowbeg in the Weatherbys Bank Handicap. He is set to carry top weight, but that says more about the strength of the opposition than anything else.

De Sousa earlier on the card rides for Ann Duffield, whose Tro Nesa must have a good chance in the Scottish Racing Claiming Stakes. Second the last twice at Ayr in class four handicaps, this represents a significant drop in class. A rating of 75 would usually be good enough to win any claimer but in Saucy Brown she faces a rival of similar ability. However, being two years younger there could be more to come from her.

Meanwhile, Aidan O'Brien believes there is no rush to decide who will partner So You Think in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday. The son of High Chaparral was sent off at long odds-on for the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. He suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Rewilding under Ryan Moore, but the five-year-old is likely to need a new pilot this weekend, with Moore set to ride Derby and Arc hero Workforce for his boss, Sir Michael Stoute.

"We're looking at the Eclipse, but we'll see how he is at the start of the week and we'll sit down and chat about it," said O'Brien of So You Think, who is one of eight confirmations for the Eclipse.