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Roger Varian feels Intilaaq will have his ideal conditions ahead of his bid to gain a first success at Pattern level in the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock on Saturday.

The three-year-old put in an impressive display at Newbury last month when coming off a strong pace to land the Listed Steventon Stakes on his first start since finishing down the field in the Qipco 2000 Guineas.

Having proven his ability to stay a mile and a quarter at the Berkshire track, the Newmarket handler is hoping he can make the most of what he perceives to be a good opportunity in the 10-furlong Group Three prize.

Varian said: "He is in good form and I am very happy with him since his win at Newbury. The trip and the ground ought to suit.

"We will have to see how it is run, but a lack of pace wouldn't worry me. Hopefully we have found a good opportunity to win at this level.

"We will just get through this and see how he goes before where we decide to go next."

While connections are concentrating on the weekend, Angus Gold, racing manager to owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, stressed that an appearance in the Juddmonte International at York is unlikely at this stage.

Gold said: "It was a strangely run race at Newbury, but when he won it he looked a decent horse again.

"Roger and his team have always thought he was a good horse and this is the next stage for him.

"Having rushed him back for the 2000 Guineas I wouldn't think he will then be thrown into a race like the Juddmonte, that is why we have taken a gentle step with him.

"He has not had a lot of racing this season and hopefully he will be a horse for next year."

Rod Millman would love to see Master Carpenter continue his revival in form having captured the ultra-competitive John Smith's Cup at York on his previous run.

Although he has been plying his trade in handicaps this season the four-year-old does already boast a victory at this level to his name after landing the Prix Daphnis at Chantilly last June.

Millman said: "He came right back to form and ran a very good race at York as those big handicaps take a bit of winning and there is no hiding place in them.

"Last year he had a bit of trouble with his feet and he was very ground dependent and needed a bit of cut in the ground.

"While I wouldn't run him on hard ground he seems like he has got over that and I am happy to run him on good ground.

"He is a very well-mannered horse so we can drop him in or make the running, we are not too worried about there being only five runners while I think a mile and a quarter is probably his best trip.

"Roger's horse looks an exceptional horse, but if there are any chinks in his armour we will find them."

Fire Fighting has proven to be a model of consistency this season with a string of placed efforts to his name, along with a victory in the Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar.

Although beaten by Intilaaq on his penultimate start, his trainer Mark Johnston believes that he could run into a place.

Johnston said: "The form is there for everyone to see. He is a well exposed horse but he comes out second top-rated so there is a very good reason to try him in this race. He is running in this as he was not eligible for the handicap on the same day."

The field is completed by the David O'Meara-trained Fattsota and Collaboration, who hails from the yard of Andrew Balding.