IT might be worthwhile giving Sapphire Seas another chance when she lines up in the Group 3 Betfred Lester Piggott Stakes, the old Pinnacle Stakes, at Haydock this afternoon.

Charlie Appleby’s filly was well beaten last time at York, but there are several reasons why you can allow her that defeat if you want to.

For starters, it was her first run of the season in Britain, it was her first run since she finished second to her stable companion English Rose (subsequently second in a Grade 1 contest at Keeneland) in a Group 2 race in Dubai in February.

Secondly, it was at York, it was her first run at York, and we know that horses can sometimes under-perform on the Knavesmire. Thirdly, she made the running that day, she had only made the running once before, and it may not have suited her.

As well as all that, this is a significant drop in grade. She was taking on Bluestocking and Free Wind in the Middleton Stakes. Bluestocking finished second in the Irish Oaks last year and was beaten a neck in the Group 1 Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot in October.

Free Wind is a multiple Group 2 winner, she won the Park Hill Stakes and the Lancashire Oaks as a younger filly, and she won the Middleton Stakes last year. Those fillies are now rated 115 and 114 respectively.

The highest-rated filly in today’s race is Caernarfon, who is rated 105. Sapphire Seas is rated 104. The fact that she was sent off as 3/1 third favourite in the Middleton Stakes is an indication of the regard in which she was held going into the race, despite the fact that she had 9lb and 10lb to find with the top fillies in the race.

We know that Sapphire Seas goes well at Haydock. She has run there just once, over today’s course and distance, last September, when she was impressive in winning a premier fillies’ handicap.

She beat another stable companion there in Veil Of Shadows, who finished second in the Group 3 Pride Stakes at Newmarket two runs later.

Sapphire Seas herself stepped forward from that when she stepped up in grade next time into a listed race at Yarmouth, and she was again impressive in winning there, coming away from her rivals inside the final furlong and leaving the impression that she had more in hand than the two-and-a-half-length winning margin. As a bonus, the runner-up in that race, Mukaddamah, won a listed race at Newcastle two runs later.

The Frankel filly has only run seven times in her life, so there could be a fair bit more to come from her. She has never been over a mile and a half before, but she stays 10 furlongs well and, out of a half-sister to King George V Stakes winner Elite Army, she was impressive in winning a novice stakes at Kempton in April last year over a mile and three furlongs.

There is every chance that she will stay 12 furlongs all right. She could even improve for the step back up in trip.

Miss Cantik is a player, but she is fairly short and all her form is on easy ground, so Night Sparkle could be the biggest danger.

She was progressive for Michael O’Callaghan last season, she won her last four for her former trainer, and she ran well last time on her second run for Andrew Balding, her seasonal debut, to finish second behind Term Of Endearment in the Group 3 Bronte Cup at York last time.

John Of Gaunt Stakes

Point Lynas could out-run his odds in the Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes 35 minutes later.

Ed Bethell’s horse was very good in winning the Hambleton Handicap at York last time. In front from early that day from his low draw, he had most of his rivals under pressure from early in the home straight, and he found lots when he was challenged by Northern Express to get home by a neck from Michael Dods’ horse, who goes particularly well at York, with the pair of them finishing nicely clear of their rivals.

He does go well at York too, his record there now reads 52221, and for the first of those 2s, he was actually first past the post.

But he also goes well at Haydock. He finished second to subsequent Queen Anne Stakes winner Triple Time in a novice stakes there on soft ground as a juvenile, and he ran well to finish fourth behind the high-class Chindit there in the Group 3 Superior Mile last September on his second.

This is obviously a step up in grade, but the handicapper raised him to a mark of 105 for his York win, which leaves him with just 6lb to find with the top-rated horses in today’s contest. He goes into the race in good form, there is every chance that he will progress from his run at York, his seasonal debut, and the drop down to an extended seven furlongs should suit him well.

And his trainer’s horses continue to be in good form, he has had one winner and five seconds from his last eight runners.

Recommended:

Sapphire Seas, 1 point win, 3.00 Haydock, 6/1 (generally)

Point Lynas, 1 point win, 3.35 Haydock, 16/1 (generally)