Mischief swoops at Haydock

Dark Mischief may be bound for Ascot after picking up the winning thread under Dane O'Neill in the EBF Halliwells LLP Classified Stakes at Haydock.Henry Candy's three-year-old made all the running, sticking to his task well inside the closing stages to see off the challenge of Silaah by a length, with Masai Moon another seven lengths adrift in third.Candy said of the 9-4 favourite: "He got a bit quirky after winning first time out at Newmarket this season, so we had him gelded. I have never known a horse so transformed by gelding him - he is loving his racing now."He added: "We may run him in a three-year-old six-furlong handicap at Ascot next week now. He has had a couple of quick races, but there are not many races like that around."Paul Hanagan reached another landmark when Elusive Sue provided him with a 100th success of the year in the EBF Chess Telecom Maiden.Although she edged left when striking the front at the furlong marker, Richard Fahey's 5-2 favourite had two and a quarter lengths to spare from Call To Arms at the line.Hanagan said: "She did it well in the end, and this is the third time I have reached a century in a year."Cape Vale is at the top of his form and put up another fine effort to get home under Adrian Nicholls in a thrilling finish to the Ainscough Vanguard HandicapThe David Nicholls-trained four-year-old led from pillar to post and kept pulling out more for the handler's son to keep Novellen Lad at bay by half a length.Nicholls' assistant Ernie Greaves said: "He did it well, especially as the ground was a bit quick for him. He could get in the Silver Cup at Ayr on Saturday, but I don't know what David will want to do."