Jack Nicol's Tote Placepot picks for Haydock on Saturday

Selection: Holloway Boy (2) 

The opening Group 3 Superior Mile Stakes was subject to a market shake-up post declarations with a number of market principals not taking up the engagement. 

That sees Cicero's Gift as the new race favourite, but it was a fairly listless performance at Goodwood last time out and a bit of trust is needed and I think we can therefore take him on for Placepot purposes. 

Instead, I'll take the consistent Holloway Boy in opposition. 

He is closely matched with Cicero's Gift on their running at Sandown back in July and generally looks the more reliable performer, for all he seems to find getting his head in front quite difficult. 

He has, though, been running well all season, hitting the frame in top handicaps the last twice and is sure to run his race once again. 

Selection: Master Builder (6) 

It's hard to see past the market leader in our second race, with Master Builder running an excellent race when last seen, with the three-year-old finishing third in the Melrose Handicap at York on handicap debut. 

The gelding stayed on strongly all the way to the line and I'm sure this race would've been to the forefront of connections’ minds immediately after the race. 

Indeed, three of the last four winners of this race came on from being beaten in the Melrose at York.

Master Builder holds the right profile for the race and the booking of William Buick also looks significant. 

Selections: Grand Alliance (1) & Divine Comedy (3) 

The feature handicap on the card is the valuable Old Borough Cup over a mile and six furlongs and I'm happy to take two runners to hopefully ensure safe passage.  

Regular readers will know I am a fan of Divine Comedy and Harry Eustace's mare has been a model of consistency since joining the stable at the beginning of last season. 

She faded into fifth on her first start for over two months at York last time out but I don't think the track really suited her running style. 

I believe the return to Haydock will see her in a much better light, especially noting how impressive she was when winning here back in May. 

At a bigger price, I've been tempted in to giving Grand Alliance a chance for trainer Charlie Fellowes. 

The five-year-old is a quirky customer but is undoubtedly a class act on his day, as documented by his Group 3 win at Newbury last season – a victory which came on the back of a 183-day absence. 

I suspect the time to catch may be when fresh. With that in mind, and coming here on his first start for over a year, I'll be interested to see how Grand Alliance fares now dropping back into handicap company for only the second time in his career. 

Selections: Shagraan (1) & American Affair (5) 

Leg four is especially competitive, but American Affair looks an attractive proposition, with the four-year-old filling the places on each of his last nine starts. 

With that has come a hefty rise in the weights, but his current mark of 92 still doesn't look to quite be at the ceiling of his ability. 

He is also reunited with Amie Waugh, whose 5lb allowance may just eke a bit more improvement, especially considering how impressive they were when combining at Thirsk in June. 

Shagraan has also been running well this season, admittedly not to the same level of consistency as American Affair but he was most impressive when winning at Goodwood on his penultimate outing and wasn't beaten far in fifth at York last time out. 

Oisin Murphy is in the saddle for the first time here and his mount should give a bold account once again. 

Selections: Jasour (11) & Swingalong (13) 

The feature Group 1 Sprint Cup is next up and there's a healthy turnout with 16 runners set to head to post. 

Kevin Ryan's Inisherin heads the market despite being beaten at short odds when fifth in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket when last seen. 

He has ground to make up with Swingalong and Art Power, second and fourth respectively, on the back of that effort but connections felt the July Course was not to his liking and a return to Haydock, where he was successful in May, should see him in a better light. 

Personally, I'm not convinced and think Swingalong can confirm the form of their Newmarket running, for all she is now 0/7 in Group 1 company. 

However, she has taken form to another level this season, finishing second in the Group 1 Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

This ultra-consistent filly looks sure to run another huge race for trainer Karl Burke. Additionally, William Buick is not a bad substitute in the saddle. 

I'll be interested to see how Jasour fares when dropped back to five furlongs but this looks the next best thing with this speedy six-furlong test looking tailor-made for the three-year-old. 

He's another who contested the July Cup, with the colt finishing sixth, just a neck behind Inisherin, having earlier pulled his way to the challenge the leaders before his effort faded inside the final furlong. 

With the ground drying out, I think he could be one for support with this test and track likely to play to his strengths.

Selections: Age Of Gold (1) & Luther (5) 

The Listed Ascendant Stakes closes out the Placepot and there's a decent turnout for this mile contest with a number a potentially classy juveniles set to line up. 

Age Of Gold would have entered many notebooks at York last month and it's fair to say that he was unfortunate not to win. 

I think time will show us that he was very well-handicapped on the Knavesmire, making his defeat all the more surprising. 

That being said, it was more track position than will to win with the son of Frankel, who was closing all the way to the line. It's no surprise connections are now trying him over a mile. 

He still has the potential to make up into a Group-class performer. 

Luther completes a strong attack in the finale. He's another by Frankel and I was impressed with his effort at Salisbury last time out, conceding race experience to his two rivals on just his second start. 

He's top rated on the back of that showing and is entitled to be right in the mix once again. He's sure to be a lovely prospect over middle distances.