Leigh Roche aiming to guide Ansgar to victory at Haydock

Dermot Weld's star apprentice Leigh Roche will aim to advertise his talents on the cross-channel stage at Haydock today with three rides headed by Ansgar's return to action in a Group Three.

It will be Roche’s first spin on Sabrina Harty’s runner who enjoyed a hugely successful 2014 with wins in Doncaster’s Park Stakes, Goodwood’s Supreme Stakes and the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh.

Ansgar will have to concede weight to 12 opponents in the Timeform Jury Stakes but Harty reported: "He'll come on for the run but I'm hoping he's fairly straight. All being well he'll go on to Royal Ascot after this."

Roche is on Harty’s Empress Toorah in a handicap while the 23-year -old Galway jockey also has a Group Three chance on Dermot McLoughlin’s Dragon Fei in the Pinnacle Stakes.

Three weeks ago Roche secured the first hat-trick of his career at Gowran. His tally of seven winners in Ireland this season puts only Colin Keane ahead of him in the apprentice table.

Today’s action at Tramore sees Ruby Walsh with three rides and course bumper winner Childrens List looks a likely winner of the second maiden hurdle.

Walsh is on that one’s stable companion Avant Tout, a course winner in a New Years Day maiden hurdle, who has a first start over fences in the Beginners Chase. But locally trained, 132-rated, Viconte Du Noyer looks a tough opponent given his early season form with Vautour and Gilgamboa.