Al Khaleej steps up in class to tackle the £85,000 totesport Victoria Cup at Ascot on Saturday.

Ed Dunlop's charge ran out an impressive winner under hands and heels at Kempton on his seasonal reappearance to earn a shot at this valuable seven-furlong prize.

Bruce Raymond, racing director for Rabbah Bloodstock, said: "Al Khaleej goes to Ascot with a very good chance.

"He made a pleasing seasonal debut at Kempton and is entitled to have benefited for that.

"He has the profile of an improving horse and let's hope he continues to justify Ed Dunlop's faith in him," he revealed.

Among his 25 rivals will be the progressive King Of Dixie, We'll Come from Michael Jarvis' yard and the Barry Hills-trained Zaahid.

Glasgow-based trainer Jim Goldie is expecting to saddle two runners, with Dhaular Dhar and Middlemarch both declared.

The former is also set to take his chance at Chester on Friday but is no stranger to making quick reappearances.

Goldie said: "We'll obviously need to see how Dhaular Dhar is after he's run at Chester, but the plan is to run again.

"He ran twice in two days at Chester last year and won the second day and he's in good order.

"I don't know whether his draw at Ascot (23) is very good as it's quite high and we might be on the wrong strip.

"Middlemarch is in five, which is probably quite good and he won the ladies' race that used to be the Diamond over this course and distance last year so he obviously likes the place.

"He has practically no weight to carry either so it'll be interesting."

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