DEAN Ivory is putting his faith in Stake Acclaim to come up with one more big performance in today's Coral Sprint Trophy at York.

Despite being on the go since April, the five-year-old has held his form remarkably well, rising 19lb in the handicap.

He has wins at Windsor and in the Shergar Cup at Ascot to his name, but has also finished placed in several valuable races, including the replacement race for the Ayr Gold Cup at Haydock last time out.

"He was so unlucky at Haydock," said Ivory. "He was in front a stride before the line and a stride after it, but not where it mattered. He seems to be getting better with age and he's very consistent.

"While he does have form on quicker ground, he could maybe do with it being a little softer than it is going to be, though.

"Ever since he won his maiden on soft, I've always felt he's been at his best with cut in the ground. One thing he doesn't want is tacky ground. Ground is quite key to him, so I hope some of the rain from the west makes its way over.

"He's in stall one and if it does rain that's a good draw, but when the ground is quicker you tend to want to be in the middle, then you can take your pick."

The William Haggas-trained Raucous has been strongly fancied for several big handicaps this season but has yet to win one and is running out of time.

Dropped 5lb since his last outing and running without headgear for the first time in a long while, Haggas is hoping he can spring a surprise.

He said: "He has got plenty of talent, it just hasn't fallen his way.

"We'll just see how he goes but he could easily surprise – he's one of those. He's in really good form and looks great, too."

David O'Meara won the race last year with Intisaab and runs Al Qahwa, a winner at the May meeting, and Edward Lewis, while Tim Easterby has a strong team with Flying Pursuit, Golden Apollo and Orion's Bow