There will be no more nervous trainer at Sha Tin on Sunday than David Hayes.

After he puts a saddle on Global Harmony in the build-up to the Class Two TVB Cup (1,400m), Hayes will be racing to get a vantage point to see his five-year-old make his way to the start.

It was less than a month ago that the heavily fancied Global Harmony was expected to go close to picking up his third win of the season, but while he walked into the stalls, he never came out of them, standing dead still as his rivals burst into stride.

That misfortune left Hayes “devastated” despite him saddling a double on the day and he admits that he may be watching through his fingers come the start of the race on Sunday.

“I’ll be nervous but he’s trialled well twice,” Hayes said. “I think if he jumps well, he’ll be a real chance and it’s a nice race for him.”

While Global Harmony has showed no signs of any problem breaking from the gates in his two trials, he did play up approaching the stalls ahead of his second one, and Hayes is at pains to thank Jockey Club officials for facilitating his runner’s participation on Sunday.

“The stewards have been particularly helpful,” Hayes said. “He’s trialled brilliantly. The first time he made no mistake but the second time he got a bit lost going up to the gates.

“[The stewards] totally understood that he couldn’t trial last Friday because of Chinese New Year and he couldn’t trial on Tuesday because nominations would have already been out, so they said all he had to do was behave going to the gates during a special practice session at 11am before Monday’s races.

“He did a pre-start practice with a rider on and he trotted around to the 1,400m gates. He did a few laps and then walked home.”

Hayes was especially keen for Global Harmony to take in this race given a lack of upcoming opportunities, with Zac Purton – who was aboard for both recent trials – taking the ride from gate seven.

“I was particularly appreciative of the help they gave us because if you look at the racing calendar there is no other race for the horse for six weeks,” Hayes said.

“They wanted to see him go to the gates. They weren’t worried about how he’s jumped, which was the problem in the race, and they weren’t worried about the way he trialled, it was just his misbehaving in the last 100m down the straight [on his way to the gates].”

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Global Harmony is the stand-out runner for Hayes this weekend but he does look to have an interesting newcomer in Chateauneuf, who runs for the first time in section one of the Class Four TVB Tung Wah Celebrity Show Handicap (1,200m).

The three-year-old son of Fastnet Rock won his most recent barrier trial in Conghua on the bridle. After pulling hard early, he moved nicely down the straight and looked to have plenty in hand at the finish.

Regent Glory, Amazing Run and Fast Victory round out Hayes’ weekend representatives.