DARK DEVIL can claim a first victory of the season when he takes the plunge as today's nap selection in the Griffiths And Armour Handicap at Haydock.

In a race that features a rash of exposed horses, the young grey can come to fore under the tutelage of Richard Fahey and ridden by Jack Garritty.

A pleasing maiden winner at Redcar this time last year, the three-year-old son of Dark Angel has only raced four times in what has been a quiet season for him.

Despite having caught the eye over seven and a half furlongs at Chester on his return to action, when a staying-on third behind Ian Fleming, the decision to go up to 10 furlongs seemingly backfired at Epsom and at this track in July.

Fahey had seen enough and dropped back to a mile at Carlisle on September 7.

The decision worked relatively well as he turned in a much-improved display to finish fourth, beaten just three-quarters of a length in a blanket finish.

A proven operator with cut in the ground and in receipt of tons of weight from many older horses, Dark Devil is a major player on the same mark of 83 off which he did so well at Carlisle.

It will be interesting to see how YANGTZE gets on in the Jeremy Kyle Handicap.

An accomplished winner at Sandown in July, a distinct lack of pace counted against him over a mile and three-quarters at Chelmsford last time as he could only finish fourth behind Tenzing Norgay, though admittedly not beaten far at all.

A reasonably-treated stayer with very few miles on the clock, Yangtze has been hand-picked a lovely opportunity to rediscover that golden touch with Graham Gibbons at the helm.

Newmarket's card is really strong – but not necessarily from a punting perspective.

Frankel filly FAIR EVA, for instance, really ought to be winning the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes on her first start over seven furlongs but it is highly unlikely she will be available at much of a price.

The Shadwell Joel Stakes has cut up quite badly but it could be prescient that David O'Meara and Sir Robert Ogden decided to supplement AMAZING MARIA at the confirmation stage.

O'Meara's inmate has not got anywhere near to her Group One form of last season but she showed a little more vim at Deauville last time and must be doing plenty on the gallops at home to convince connections to spin the wheel.

William Haggas has his string in brilliant form, with FAREEQ taken to enhance the figures in the Flame Nursery Handicap at Newcastle's evening meeting.

The gelded two-year-old brought spits and spots of reasonable form to the table in three maidens, not least when he took third place over this course and distance at the start of the month.

Fareeq also has the assistance of jockey Silvestre de Sousa, which has to be of note.