Tag: Haydock

Newmarket Saturday Preview

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It’s Cambridgeshire day at Newmarket and the result of the consolation race on Friday indicated that there is no clear draw bias. That does not really help us with 35 runners to sort through but I’ve picked out a couple for each-way interest.

Niceofyoutotellme won at Newmarket in the spring for Ralph Beckett, his first start since running a dismal race in the consolation race at the corresponding meeting. That was his first run in a hood and the headgear was left on at Ascot in June when he ran a fair race to finish ninth in the Royal Hunt Cup. He was held up towards the rear at Goodwood last time and was never likely to get involved but a couple of months off should have freshened him up for this race.

My second selection is Buckstay who is well weighted with Extremity on Goodwood form. He was beaten a short-head by that horse over a mile trying to concede 10lbs in July and is now weighted to receive 1lb from the Hugo Palmer runner. There is a huge disparity in the odds for the duo, probably because of Buckstay’s modest third last time at Kempton. Maxime Guyon is an interesting booking for Peter Chapple-Hyam’s runner.

There appears to be plenty of confidence behind Sir Michael Stoute’s Sandy Cay in the opening nursery but I am sticking with Rosalie Bonheur after her game win at Salisbury. She was never travelling better than at the finish of that seven-furlong contest and she can complete a hat-trick for Clive Cox.

It has been a sad week for the Balding family with the passing of legendary National Hunt trainer Toby. He was no mean trainer on the flat either and was equally adept at educating jockeys, as Tony McCoy will testify. I am hoping that the family will have cause for minor celebration with the promising Elm Park in the Royal Lodge, although Nafaqa is the obvious threat. His Doncaster form looks smart after Toocoolforschool won the Mill Reef so easily last week.

Tiggy Wiggy should win the Cheveley Park but is not great value after a long season. Windshear ran a lifeless race at Newmarket today for the Hannon team after a similarly exhausting campaign.

There is a typically competitive card over at Haydock and I must give Chilworth Icon a mention in the big sprint. I tipped him for the Portland Handicap recently and he was a fast-finishing fifth. I am a bit worried that this five furlongs will be on the sharp side but he’s in great form and should go well at a good price.

Rosalie Bonheur 2.0 Newmarket @5-1 Paddy Power

Elm Park 2.35 Newmarket @3-1 BetVictor

Tiggy Wiggy 3.10 Newmarket @11-10 Bet365

Niceofyoutotellme 3.50 Newmarket @16-1 William Hill (each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4,5)

Buckstay 3.50 Newmarket @33-1 Ladbrokes (each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4,5)

Chilworth Icon 4.10 Haydock @14-1 Bet365 (each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4)

Racing Preview Sept 6th

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Triple Chocolate (6-1) ensured another profit on Friday for Betcirca followers. Mistrusting duly landed the odds but our treble hopes were dashed when Master Bond was just run out of it in the sprint.

Saturday’s UK racing action is one of those days when you are left wondering why we have an embarrassment of riches one week and next to nothing the next. Ascot, Haydock and Kempton all feature top quality racing and there is even a Scoop 6 expected to hit a £3.5million jackpot!

Starting at Ascot, Cornrow looks difficult to oppose in the opening race for the Gosden and Buick team. He won impressively at Haydock over a mile and shouldn’t be inconvenienced by dropping back in trip as he raced keenly in front that day. The danger could be Safety Check who was given too much to do at Goodwood last time and is a real seven-furlong specialist.

You could make a case for a dozen different horses in the Heritage Handicap at 3.30. Most of the top yards are represented and Second Step, Montaly and Battersea all have sound claims. I am going to go with Rainbow Rock, one of four runners from Mark Johnston’s stable. I liked the way he stayed on at Goodwood over a mile and a quarter and the 5lb claim of Cam Hardie gives him a winning weight.

Over at Haydock, Chancery has been unlucky in his last couple of outings and could be worth each-way support in the Old Borough Cup. Havana Cooler is a worthy favourite but he lacks a bit of acceleration and the handicapper keeps pushing him up for being placed. I think 9st 10lb will prove too much of a burden while the free-running Nautilus and York winner Glenard are others with chances. The going looks to have gone against bottom weight Epsom Hill who has romped to victories in soft ground and been clobbered by the handicapper here.

Sole Power looks set to try and win over six furlongs for the first time in his career in the big sprint. The going is drying out for him but it must be doubtful whether he is quite as effective over this trip. You could have thrown a large horse blanket over the first ten at York in the Nunthorpe but G Force and Cougar Mountain both looked unlucky. They represent good each-way value against the favourite.

There is also a good card at Kempton with two Group 3 races. Godolphin run three in the September Stakes, any one of which could win. As all three have been off the track for some time, it is anybody’s guess and it could pay to side with our old friend Dandino. He finished second in the American St Leger in his double bid last time out but handles this surface and deserves a victory.

Hugo Palmer has been winning races for fun lately and has a high opinion of Home Of The Brave. He was impressive at Newmarket last time out and should get the better of Maftool in the Sirenia Stakes at 4.10.

Cornrow 1.55 Ascot @9-2 PaddyPower

Rainbow Rock 3.30 Ascot @10-1 Bet365

Dandino 2.20 Kempton @6-1 Coral

Home Of The Brave 4.10 Kempton @5-2 Bet365

Chancery 3.15 Haydock @14-1 PaddyPower

G Force 3.50 Haydock @10-1 BetVictor

Cougar Mountain 3.50 Haydock @14-1 BetVictor

Haydock Friday Preview

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Rosalie Bonheur (8-1) guaranteed a profit from our three selections on Thursday with Marsh Hawk just beaten in a photograph. I must admit to being pleasantly surprised by the SP return on our winner!

Winners were hard to find on the opening day of the three-day Sprint Cup meeting at Haydock but I’ve been going through the form for Friday in the hope of digging up a winner or two. I will be disappointed if Mistrusting cannot win the 2.30 for Godolphin after her fine debut run behind Malabar.

Mick Channon’s filly has gone on to win a much better class of race at Goodwood and Mistrusting definitely had the winner under pressure before experience told. Her jockey was not hard on her in the closing stages and she should win this unless there is a surprise package among the newcomers.

The sprint handicap at 3.30 has attracted three last-time-out winners with Poyle Vinnie and Triple Chocolate both seeking a hat-trick. I just favour Triple Chocolate after the way he battled to the line to win at Newmarket and the danger could be Free Rein. Ralph Beckett’s runner has been tried at longer trips and the booking of Richard Hughes could be significant.

If that race is tricky, the 4.10 is virtually impossible! Having managed to pick a 1-2 in a five-furlong dash at Chester at the weekend I am going to try my luck with Master Bond here. He looked like completing a hat-trick last time when cruising up to the leaders but did not find the acceleration that was expected. He has a more experienced jockey aboard here and should get a more positive ride.

As you would expect, there are a stack of dangers including Random Success who ran inexplicably badly last time out at Newmarket. Come On Dave ran well in the void race at Epsom the other day and is still in good form but we’ll stick with David O’Meara’s runner.

Our final bet of the day is Madeed in the 4.20. Brian Meehan’s three-year-old has run two cracking races in far better races than this at Goodwood in recent weeks. He was placed at the big festival meeting behind Lyn Valley and then finished second to The Corsican. Paul Hanagan did not enjoy his finest hour on the most recent occasion, bringing him very wide into the straight and then running into a pocket. He can make amends here off the same handicap mark.

Mistrusting 2.30 @4-6 Betfair

Triple Chocolate 3.35 @9-2 Betfair

Master Bond 4.10 @8-1 Bet365

Madeed 5.20 @5-2 Coral

Haydock Saturday Preview

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At the time of writing, the rain is apparently “pelting down” at Haydock on Friday evening and the going is already good from good to firm. That probably means some testing conditions for Saturday’s card and that means some careful consideration is needed.

It looks a good quality card on Saturday but there are almost certain to be a load of non-runners if the going turns soft. The pick of the form has been achieved on fast ground so it may pay to delve a bit deeper and find horses that will go in softer ground.

The first horse that stands out is Sir Michael Stoute’s Rye House. He obviously has his problems as he is now five years old and this will be only his ninth start. He impressed me when winning at York last season in soft ground but did not reappear for a year. He finished fifth behind the well-handicapped Clever Cookie but did not have his conditions next time at Newmarket. He could start at a lot shorter than 6-1 if the going continues to deteriorate.

Nabucco is a horse that I have followed since early in his three-year-old career. He is tough and consistent but does not like fast ground. All things considered, it was a decent run to finish third to Amralah at Newbury last month on good ground. He absolutely hacked up in heavy ground at Salisbury last season and he could get a Group 3 success in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes tomorrow.

Hillstar did not look entirely happy on this sort of ground at Chester in May and I’ve never really been entirely convinced by him. True Story looks overrated and Nabucco can gain revenge on Amralah.

There are some interesting races later in the day, notably the Listed Fillies’ Stakes at 3.25. I am tempted to support Psychometry here but there is no real evidence that she likes soft ground. She was third at Goodwood behind Marsh Daisy but was well beaten. It was her eye-catching run at Ascot that makes her worth keeping an eye on. She never had an inch of space and yet managed to finish full of running within four lengths of the winner. She has a decent race in her, I’m just not sure that it will be tomorrow. Each-way might be the way to go.

Rye House 2.20 Haydock at 6-1 Bet365

Nabucco 2.55 Haydock at 8-1 BetVictor

Psychometry 3.25 Haydock at 10-1 BetVictor (each-way)

Sandown Thursday Preview

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The pick of the action in the UK on Thursday comes from Sandown’s evening fixture with a six race card starting at 5.40.

The most interesting event on the card is the handicap for three-year-olds at 7.25 over ten furlongs. Several of these have plenty of room for improvement with three of them having won last time out. John Gosden’s Prince Of Stars has been notable by his absence since winning at Chester back in May and has been well supported in the early skirmishes for his handicap debut.

He didn’t beat much at Chester and the Wood Ditton form has taken a few knocks so he is passed over at odds of around 5-2. Mythical Madness won a poor race last time and Hoop Of Colour overcame trouble in running to win a five-runner race at Pontefract. He is up a few pounds but the form of Lady Cecil’s stable does not inspire confidence.

Luca Cumani’s Comedy King is probably better than he showed last time out while Hedge End is incredibly consistent but has not won since December. She finished well at Goodwood last week behind Magique and runs off the same mark here. She seems to try her heart out and is the each-way selection in a tricky contest.

Roger Charlton’s Tides Reach is a bit of a puzzler in the closing handicap. She has always looked more of a soft ground filly but won by eight lengths at Windsor on good to firm last time out. I think she was flattered by the runner-up having been virtually eased to a walk by Richard Hughes at the line and she is worth opposing.

I have been impressed by the way in which Silvestre De Sousa has kept his head down after the poor treatment he received from Godolphin. He teams up with Unison who has run a couple of solid races and should go close here. He is closely weighted with Sweet Martoni but can just sneak it.

Over at Brighton, I think Lear’s Rock can improve on his debut fourth at Sandown and may be good enough to beat Hawkmeister. Richard Hannon’s runner is fitted with the blinkers here after a disappointing run at Lingfield last time out. Azmaam’s run at Sandown last time is best forgotten after a tardy start and he showed enough on his debut to win Haydock’s 2.40 race.

Lear’s Rock 3.20 Brighton

Azmaam 2.40 Haydock

Hedge End (each-way) 7.25 Sandown at 7-1 BetVictor

Unison 8.25 Sandown at 5-1 Paddy Power

Haydock Saturday Preview

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The Lancashire Oaks is the highlight of a typically competitive Haydock card on Saturday. There are some high-class fillies and mares seeking the Group 2 prize including last season’s Oaks winner Talent.

She ran a great race to finish second in the St Leger but is yet to win since Epsom. She was disappointing behind shock winner Seal Of Approval at Ascot in October but should be better for her comeback race behind Cirrus Des Aigles.

There are a number of unknown quantities in this field including the unbeaten Sultanina and Charity Line. The latter comes over from Italy with a big reputation but I prefer to side with the progressive Lustrous. Richard Hannon’s filly foiled my selection, Radiator, when winning narrowly at York over a mile. She was then stepped up to a mile and a half for the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot and held up to get the trip.

Richard Hughes weaved his way through the field up the home straight and beat all bar Bracelet. She looked tough and resolute at York and looks good each-way value in a tough race.

The Old Newton Cup has always been a favourite target for Newmarket trainer Luca Cumani. Once again he saddles the likely favourite here in Havana Cooler, a promising third at the Royal meeting first time out. I was not entirely taken with him last season at Goodwood when he seemed to take an age to quicken up for Kieren Fallon and I am prepared to pass him over in this race.

Havana Cooler is drawn in stall 1 but I would imagine that he would be dropped in behind Salutation. Mark Johnston’s horses are very difficult to predict in these big handicaps and Salutation is no exception. He could just as easily finish last as first.

De Rigeur produced a 25-1 shock in a messy race at Newmarket last time where Mighty Yar was sent off favourite. I would not be at all surprised to see the places reversed as Mighty Yar raced on the far side and I’ve often seen races favour the stands side on the July course. He wasn’t beaten that far in seventh and is well drawn in stall 7.

Dashing Star ran in that race and against Salutation at Ascot but always seems to find a couple too good so we shall side with Mighty Yar for Lady Cecil.

Lustrous 2.55 Haydock at 8-1 Paddy Power

Mighty Yar 3.30 Haydock at 9-1 Skybet