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Luca Cumani expects Havana Cooler to step up on a promising first run of the season when he lines up for the bet365 Old Newton Cup at Haydock Park.

The four-year-old, who is also under consideration for the Ebor at York, returned from a 10-month absence to finish an eyecatching third behind Arab Spring in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot.

"It was a very good start seeing as it was his first run since last August. He goes there in good form. The longer straight will suit him much better," said Cumani.

De Rigueur bounced back to form after two below-par efforts this term when springing a 25-1 surprise at Newmarket five weeks ago.

The six-year-old won over two miles on this course last summer but he is just as effective over a mile and a half, as he showed on his latest start.

"We were a bit disappointed with his first two starts this year, but he had a setback at the end of last year," said trainer Marco Botti.

"He had a lot of time off and he needed a couple of runs to get back to his best. He was probably a little bit rusty. I thought the conditions at Newmarket suited him. He wants a bit of cut in the ground.

"We didn't run him last week at Newcastle (in the Northumberland Plate) as the ground was too quick, but he's capable of running a good race at that level. He won over further at Haydock last year. He's gone up a few pounds, but he is still capable of winning off his mark."

Strictly Silver could finish only eighth in this race last year, but trainer Alan Bailey felt he had valid excuses as the ground was too quick and he was drawn on the wide outside. Fresh from a win at Ayr last time, he has a better draw in stall 10 and ground conditions should be more suitable.

Bailey said: "The ground was too firm for him in this race last year. I want the ground to have the word 'good' in the description - good to firm or good to soft would be fine.

"He's very well. He was put up 5lb for his win at Ayr but he's still better off than he was in this race last year. He had a bad draw then as well. He was drawn 18, but he's in the middle this time."

Michael Bell is looking for a good effort from Wigmore Hall, especially after the seven-year-old suffered a setback just before he was unplaced behind Contributer in the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot.

"He ran at Royal Ascot but he had a troubled prep," the Newmarket trainer told Betfred TV. "He pricked his foot three days before the race so he spent the three days with his foot in an ice bucket, which is not ideal.

"He's in really good form now. They dropped him 4lb and he's a dual Group One winner, so off 101 he should be very competitive.

"It's always a good race but he is a very high-class horse on his day and off this mark he should run a good race. He's got the class to carry the weight. He's flying."