LUCA Cumani has endured a merely moderate season in 2016 but El Vip can give the trainer a welcome winner in the SIS Handicap at Leicester.

The Newmarket handler, pictured, has had the likes of Mizzou and Loving Things to have flown the flag at decent level this term and while El Vip is certainly not of their calibre, he is more than capable of taking this one-mile heat.

This Pivotal colt did not make his racecourse debut until July but he wasted little time in getting off the mark at the first time of asking at Doncaster, looking a really decent prospect in the process.

That performance saw him sent off as favourite at Haydock next time out on his handicap debut off 90 but he raced a bit too keenly that day and found a handful of more experienced rivals too good when push came to shove.

Things again did not work out in his favour last time as he could claim only third at Pontefract, but the fact he was held up off a strong pace must be taken into account as the tactics employed meant he never looked like landing a meaningful blow.

The handicapper has perhaps been a little harsh in easing him just 1lb for those two defeats, but El Vip remains a horse of unspecified ability and switching back to a mile here could suit given his strong-running style.

Buonarroti really comes alive when the conditions are on the easy side so he must be one for the shortlist in the Sir Gordon Richards Handicap.

His record of two wins in 24 starts does not make for the best reading but he has run some really decent races in good company in the past, and was even rated as high as 105 when trained by Aidan O'Brien back in 2014.

Clearly he is not achieving that kind of level now for Declan Carroll but he has slowly crept back up the ratings to a mark of 90 and ran a fair race off that mark when fifth at Haydock last month.

He was another that was given plenty to do that day so perhaps it is best to offer him the benefit of the doubt and support him once again here.

Mark Johnston can secure a special success via Sofia's Rock in the European Breeders' Fund - Double Trigger EBF Maiden Stakes at Redcar.

The nine-furlong heat is named in honour of Johnston's former staying star Double Trigger and you would expect the Middleham handler would have brought a proper contender along.

Sofia's Rock has proved a bit free in his last couple of starts but looks as though he will stay the distance.

Golden Investment can prove just that as he switches to fences in the Racing UK HD Chase at Ayr.

He made it fourth time lucky over hurdles at Kelso back in May, cutting out all the running to secure a three-and-a-quarter-length success with the minimum of fuss.

Previously a point-to-point winner before joining Donald McCain, chasing should hold few fears for him.

SELECTIONS

AYR: 2.00 Progress Drive, 2.30 Ckalco Des Loges, 3.05 St Gregory, 3.35 Seven Devils, 4.10 Golden Investment, 4.40 Captain Sam.

LEICESTER: 1.40 Auric Goldfinger, 2.10 Royal Cosmic, 2.40 Infiniti, 3.15 EL VIP (NAP), 3.45 Dimitre, 4.20 Buonarroti, 4.50 Sitar, 5.20 Strictly Art.

REDCAR: 1.50 Harvest Moon, 2.20 Cool Run Girl, 2.50 Sofia's Rock, 3.25 Eastern Shore, 3.55 Adherence, 4.30 Zabeel Prince, 5.00 Shesnotforturning, 5.30 Tricky Dicky.

DOUBLE: El Vip and Buonarroti.