JUSTICE will be done if Royal Shakespeare (1.50) wins Haydock's prestigious £70,000 Stanleybet Handicap Hurdle.

Robbed is the only word to describe Royal Shakespeare's fate at Sandown last time out because he was in the lead and seemingly about to power clear from his rivals until crashing out at the second hurdle from home.

It was an ironic way to concede defeat since the highly-rated gelding had jumped like a cat all the way round at the Esher venue prior to that costly blunder. Royal Shakespeare will have to be careful not to make the same mistake twice but if he does stay on his feet, the 8-1 ante-post shot must have an excellent chance of beating hot-favourite Genghis.

Trainer Steve Gollings was at pains to explain that he'd never really had the horse in mint condition until the Sandown debacle, which must have made the loss an even more bitter pill to swallow, especially as the six-year-old was at his best for the first time this year.

Royal Shakespeare has a little bit to find form-wise on his running against Genghis in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr, where the latter had four lengths to spare over the selection.

But after being reassessed by the Official Handicapper, Genghis is now 8lbs worse off with Royal Shakespeare, a weight difference that could prove crucial at the finish.

Genghis is chasing his fifth victory on the bounce.

Peter Bowen's six-year-old will be partnered by Tony McCoy, who has ridden him on his last two outings.

''Genghis has done nothing wrong. He won the Scottish Champion Hurdle and he won at Liverpool,'' said the jockey.

''The way he races I would imagine Philip Hobbs will be hoping it will suit Rooster Booster down to the ground, because he likes to go off at a good gallop.

''Rooster Booster has been one of the best hurdlers for a while and we'll have to make sure the race isn't totally run to suit him because there's no doubt he's better coming off a fast pace.''

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