Tag: Haydock

Haydock Old Newton Cup Preview

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The good news is that our ante-post bets for the weekend all still stand after the 48 hour declarations. That includes 20-1 about Mars in the Eclipse who will be partnered by Ryan Moore. I think I probably deserve a free bet for managing to correctly guess which race Aidan O’Brien would run him in!

The Ballydoyle maestro pulled another rabbit out of the that this week by announcing that Declaration of War would join Mars in the race. In his defence, the horse has winning form over a mile and a quarter so it is not like he is running a sprinter. Wouldn’t it be typical if he turns out to be the one to beat Mars!

Anyway, moving over to Haydock and the Old Newton Cup. I tried to fathom this one out earlier in the week but decided to put it in the “too difficult” tray until the running plans are known. The Highclere team has decided to let Opinion take his chance under top weight but I remain sceptical about the form of the Ascot race.

Ustura certainly did nothing for the form this week and it is going to take a mighty effort under 9st 10lb. I am convinced that Mark Johnston’s horses are coming into peak form ahead of the Newmarket July meeting and Glorious Goodwood. Nothing unusual about that of course but I was hoping he would help me out by reducing his entries for this race.

No such luck! He has left all five in the race. I thought Scatter Dice put in an eye-catching run in the Northumberland Plate last week and briefly looked to have gone ahead in the dash to the line. Fennell Bay is another tough nut to pass on his day but both horses seem to have been running every week. Star Lahib must also have a squeak after some consistent efforts but none of them scream out at you.

I fancied Quixote for last week’s Plate as a lively outsider but Clive Brittain decided to divert him here instead. Hayley Turner is an interesting booking having last ridden him at Southwell last year. His run against Montaser was sound enough and he could be worth each-way support.

I just cannot work up any enthusiasm for Luca Cumani’s Franciscan and Strictly Silver might have had a chance but for a lousy draw. I am going to have an each-way on Scatter Dice, a name that seems wholly appropriate for a mind-boggling race!

Quixote 16-1 Ladbrokes
Scatter Dice 20-1 Skybet

Haydock Park July 6th Ante-Post Preview

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Prices are now up on the two feature races at Haydock on Saturday, the Lancashire Oaks and the Old Newton Cup. The latest going reports suggest that it is good, good to firm in places but we can take nothing for granted after last week’s Northumberland Plate fiasco. When was the last time you had horses being withdrawn from the same race because it was too firm and too soft!

Assuming we avoid both extremes, we should be set for some excellent racing. I have mixed feelings about Opinion because I had tipped his stable companion Rye House at Ascot. It was a bit galling to see Ryan Moore switch to Opinion when Rye House was withdrawn and then proceed to bolt up.

Moore is on duty at Sandown on Saturday so Keiren Fallon has been provisionally booked for the ride. At the time of writing he is not yet a confirmed starter but I have about as much luck backing Fallon as I do with Jamie Spencer (i.e. none) so I’m inclined to pass him over. Only Camborne stands between Opinion and top weight and I’m not convinced that it was the greatest handicap ever run at Royal Ascot.

Behind Opinion were Ustura, Blue Surf, Hanoverian Baron and Highland Castle. You can forget the finishing position of Highland Castle as he never saw daylight at any stage. Luca Cumani loves preparing one for this race but I’m not sure that Franciscan fits his usual profile. It is true that he ran his best race for a long time at Carlisle last time but it was still only Carlisle. I think I will pass this race over until running plans are confirmed.

The one that interests me in the Lancashire Oaks is Godolphin’s Albasharah. She reeled off three victories before being pitched into a competitive handicap at the Royal meeting. She was sent off as favourite despite a 16lb hike in the weights and may well have won if she had got any sort of run in the race. De Sousa has been riding well but, for whatever reason, Albasharah never had a chance and did well to stay on strongly into fifth. This represents another step up in class but she could be good enough.

Wild Coco and Songbird are not yet certain runners from Lady Cecil’s stable and Banoffee didn’t settle properly in the Oaks or at Chester and may struggle to last home. Moment In Time and Midnight Soprano also have chances but I’ll take a chance on Albasharah at 6-1.

Lancashire Oaks
Albasharah 6-1 BetVictor

Horse Racing Preview Saturday 8th June

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Haydock has put together a decent card on Saturday with the feature race being the Timeform Jury Stakes, a Group 3 seven-furlong race better known as The John Of Gaunt Stakes. Previous winners include Decorated Hero and Main Aim and it is ideal for those horses that fall between sprinter and miler.

Darryl Holland rode Pastoral Player to victory here 12 months ago and Graham Lee is in the saddle tomorrow as the six-year-old bids to win it for a second time. Hughie Morrison’s gelding looked a shade unlucky when fourth behind Eton Forever here last month and that form has since been boosted by the Diomed Stakes win of Gregorian. He will need to reverse the placings with both the winner and Red Jazz (3rd) but I think the quicker ground will help.

Ambivalent is likely to be sent off favourite for the Pinnacle Stakes after finishing second to the useful Dalkala at York. She ran quite freely there and I’m not entirely convinced that she will be suited by this step up in trip. I’m prepared to take the 9-2 available about Godolphin’s Prussian. Her latest effort when second in Meydan was possibly flattering but a similar display would see her home in this grade.

Hoyam and Hayley Turner will be a popular choice for the Cecil Frail Stakes after just losing out at Nottingham last time. This looks a difficult little race but I’m going for City Girl to provide Ralph Beckett with another decent prize. She was well beaten by Zanetto at Newbury last time but had a smart performer in Ninjago behind in third and she must rate a fair bet at 8-1.

The Listed Sandy Lane Stakes looks like set to go the way of Richard Hannon’s The Professor. He was an easy winner at Ascot and can follow up here at the expense of Irish raider Clancy Avenue.

Over at Newmarket there is a decent sprint with Sir Michael Stoute’s Enrol and Nocturn set to clash over six furlongs. I have backed Nocturn ante-post for the Wokingham but neither horse looks certain to get a run at this stage. I liked his performance at York and am reluctant to pass him over off only a 3lbs higher mark. However, Enrol also impressed me when winning at Doncaster under hands and heels and looks destined for better things. Backing favourites in sprint handicaps may be the quick way to the poor house but I think 11-4 is a decent bet.

Niceofyoutotellme was widely touted ahead of the big Epsom meeting but was withdrawn from his intended engagement. He did produce a good burst of speed to win last time and I would not be surprised to see him sent off favourite but Ehtedaam strikes me as another horse going the right way. His rider did not need to resort to the whip to see off Nabucco last time and I can’t see the result being any different here.

Newmarket
Ehtedaam 3-1 Ladbrokes
Enrol 11-4 William Hill

Haydock
Prussian 9-2 Bet365
Pastoral Player 3-1 Ladbrokes
City Girl 8-1 Bet365
The Professor 6-4 William Hill

Horse Racing Preview May 25th-26th

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Our ante-post advice earlier in the week is looking good with all three original selections cut in price. Sole Power was advised at 7-2 for the Temple Stakes and is now down to 2-1 following the withdrawal of Pearl Secret. Reckless Abandon looks to be his chief rival but I still have respect for the Robert Cowell-trained pair of Spirit Quartz and Kingsgate Native.

Spirit Quartz was done no favours by the draw in the Palace House Stakes and again finds himself on the opposite side of the course to the favourite. He has three lengths to find and may struggle if Tangerine Trees gives Sole Power a nice tow into the race. Kingsgate Native remains slightly enigmatic but Cowell reports both sprinters to be in fine shape. So far the worst of the showers have avoided Haydock so it is still looking good for the fast ground that the favourite loves.

Breton Rock has been taken out of the Silver Bowl and Here Comes When is 5-1 from 7-1 to follow up his Chester win. That still leaves Richard Hannon’s Baltic Knight and I am going to have a saver on this promising colt. He beat Here Comes When at Newbury and is better off at the weights and the form received another boost when the third horse won a nice handicap at Newmarket on Saturday. His run behind Dundonell was a good one and he will be a big danger if this race does not come too quickly.

The Irish 2000 Guineas has been turned on its head by a flood of money for Chester Dee Stakes winner Magician. Many observers felt that he had earned a crack at the Epsom Derby with that win but he has apparently been showing so much speed at home that he is regarded as the stable number one here. That is quite an honour with a Breeders’ Cup winner and two horses that were beaten only three or four lengths in the French Guineas to consider.

If you are on Magician at 14-1 I wish you luck but he no longer represents value at 5-2. The one that interests me is Flying The Flag at 33-1 with Stan James. The French Guineas was something of a farce with the horses finishing in a heap but Flying The Flag was arguably the unluckiest of the lot. He trailed the entire field turning in but made up an enormous amount of ground. My biggest worry is that he will be used as a pacemaker as he was last season but at 33-1 I’m prepared to take a punt.

Just The Judge is on course for the 1000 Guineas and I’m optimistic that she can give Charlie Hills his first classic success. Moth looks almost certain to be diverted to the Oaks next week and I think Snow Queen could emerge as the biggest danger. She ran well at Newmarket without ever threatening the leaders and should not be far behind Just The Judge.

Baltic Knight 6-1 Coral
Flying The Flag 33-1 Stan James

Haydock And Curragh Ante-Post Preview

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This weekend’s racing at Haydock features two top quality betting races in the Temple Stakes and the Betfred Silver Bowl. Over at the Curragh there is classic action with the Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday and the 1000 Guineas on Sunday.

Last year’s Temple Stakes was won in a course record time by Roger Charlton’s Bated Breath from the fast finishing Sole Power. The latter is hoping to go one place better this year after winning impressively at Newmarket last time out. Not surprisingly he has been put up the 7-2 ante-post favourite and he is expected to be hard to beat. His latest victory followed two solid efforts at Meydan. He had several of Saturday’s rivals behind him at Newmarket including the Robert Cowell-trained pair Kingsgate Native (2nd) and Spirit Quartz (5th). There did not seem to be any real excuse for either that day although Spirit Quartz may have been slightly inconvenienced by the draw.

The Silver Bowl has been won by some cracking good three-year-olds down the years and another strong field is set to turn out this weekend. Whatever the result on Saturday, this race is usually a good guide to the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot and the form is always worth following. The one to be on early in the week here is Andrew Balding’s Here Comes When who did us a favour when winning at Chester recently. He beat Breton Rock with a little up his sleeve and can beat the same horse on only 2lb worse terms. Richard Hannon’s Baltic Knight could be a danger if allowed to take his chance after chasing home the smart Dundonnell last Saturday. He beat Here Comes When at Newbury by a neck and is 7lb better off at the weights.

The Irish 2000 Guineas on Saturday looks wide open with several of the also-rans from the Newmarket Guineas set to turn out again. It will be interesting to see how the form of those beaten so convincingly by Dawn Approach stands up. With Aidan O’Brien having eight of the nineteen runners it is unwise to have a bet until running plans are made known.

O’Brien has also thrown a spanner in the works for the 1000 Guineas on Sunday by declaring one-time Oaks favourite Moth. However, I am prepared to stick with the Charlie Hills-trained Just The Judge to gain compensation. She looked to have done everything right at Newmarket and was unlucky to be run out of it close home. The Guineas form is not always confirmed at the Curragh but I’m prepared to take a chance at the opening quote of 100-30. Those odds can only shorten if Moth is diverted to Epsom.

Sole Power 7-2 Skybet
Here Comes When 7-1 Bet365
Just The Judge 100-30 Bet Victor