The lightly-raced Heartland, with Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the irons, appeals at 5-1 in the Racing.It’s A Rush Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth today although stable companion Star Chestnut could run him close.

The selection has only had one race since the end of November and that was in a Pinnacle over a furlong less two months ago. The trip was widely considered too short for him yet he managed to divide La Favourari and Tevez, no mean achievement. He had Line Break a length and a half behind and meets him again on the same terms.

Star Chestnut will not now be partnered by Richard Fourie who has been compulsorily stood down after becoming dehydrated towards the end of Sunday’s meeting. The four-year-old has gone close in his last two starts and looks sure to get into the shake-up.

“He is very consistent and will run well while Heartland will too. He likes to race fresh,” comments Jonathan Snaith. “We expect to have a good day and our runners sprinted up well on Sunday morning.”

Star Chestnut was a 6-1 chance yesterday with World Sports Betting who had Silicone Valley favourite at 33-10 even though the six-year-old has been off since suffering an over-reach four months ago.

Piet Botha’s mount is the class horse in the race – he was fifth in the Queen’s Plate and second in the Merchants – but his lengthy absence is a considerable negative. “You always wonder if they are going to need it after being off like this,” says Glen Puller. “Silicone Valley has his problems – he has had two knee operations – but he was off for a year at one stage and came back to win.”

But the horse has to give weight all round and in the circumstances his price looks too short. Milton (6-1) is always a threat over this sort of trip but the handicappers put him up three points for last time’s win over 400m further when Donovan Dillon pinched the race – and that could swing the balance against him.

This time Dillon is on 8-1 chance Catkin who has won three of his last six starts over this trip and went up only a kilo for the most recent one when he beat Star Chestnut less than half a length and is a kilo worse.

Brilliant Crimson (7-1) won over this distance two races back but looks held by Star Chestnut as does 12-1 chance Line Break although he often gives the impression he is capable of a bit more.

Icon King (15-1) ran the first bad race of his life when dropped back to 1 200m last time. “He was slowly away and got bumped,” recalls Mike Stewart. “This is a tough race but I think he will be there.”

On paper the Eric Sands pair Streak Of Silver and Hanabi have it do but the latter is on a four-timer and Streak has won his last two. “He needs a good pace,” says Sands, “while Hanabi always tries and I think she is well in.”

Varside is 17-10 favourite to start the Snaith balling rolling in the first but he has had a lot of chances so maybe Seventh Rule will prevail. But Angel’s Trumpet should oblige at 28-10 in race two.

By Michael Clower