Haydock Saturday

1.15 Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes (Group 3) 1m 37yds

It will be intriguing to see how Friday’s times compare to Thursday at Haydock in order to ascertain whether the ground is quickening more rapidly than the going description.

The latter hasn’t changed from good to soft since the first day but with the weather in the north-west sunny and dry it ought to tighten up a little, for all the times on Thursday showed there was still a fair bit of juice in the ground.

Cicero’s Gift clearly doesn’t want it quick, with his two unplaced efforts coming on good or quicker, but he looks the pick here given he was a comfortable winner from Holloway Boy in handicap company at Sandown on his return, conceding weight, and ground, to that rival in the process.

He will take plenty of beating if in the same mood, and he moved like a crab on firm at Goodwood last time, which excuses his poor showing, if also raising a flag regarding his required conditions.

1.50 Betfair Plays Different Handicap 1m 6f 1yd

Master Builder is hard to get away from after his excellent effort to be third in the Melrose at York, and he has similar conditions here.

A winner at Salisbury in May when beating Subsequent by a head, Master Builder had a quiet run at Kempton to qualify for a mark and was then set aside for the Melrose.

Meanwhile, Subsequent won three times, and is now rated 95, making an initial rating of 85 for David Menuisier’s charge look lenient, and he showed as much despite not getting the clearest of passages up the straight at York when closing to the line.

A 3lb rise for York seems very fair considering the Melrose is one of the most hotly contested three-year-old handicaps of the entire season, and Menuisier continues in excellent form, so Master Builder, for whom William Buick has been engaged, looks to hold a favourite’s chance here.

2.25 Betfair Exchange Old

Borough Cup Handicap

1m 6f 1yds

Clues will be provided by the preceding contest in terms of pace and draw, but the Old Borough Cup is typically open with no three-year-old representation.

Knightswood is considered from the inside draw having had no luck in the race won by stablemate Align The Stars at Goodwood. While he was unlucky in the run there, so were about half a dozen others, and it’s dangerous to assume he’s well treated given how he shaped, and while he may not have quite stayed two miles at York last time, he didn’t look like he would have won at shorter, either.

Oneforthegutter comes here after an excellent run in the Ebor and he has plenty of form in conditions which give him claims here, with the booking of Ryan Moore more than adequate compensation for a 1lb rise in the weights. He has improved since given a test of stamina on the flat but remains unexposed at a mile and three-quarters having raced just a handful of times at the trip.

He was a length in front of Epic Poet at York, and I’d be very confident he can confirm the form, with Epic Poet not any stronger in the final furlong than the selection and arguably best at a mile and a half.

3.00 Betfair Be Friendly

Handicap 5f

I’d not put anyone off favourite American Affair as Jim Goldie’s charge is improving all the time.

Jockey Aimee Waugh is very good at settling strong travellers and isn’t afraid to put herself in gaps other jockeys might balk at. She has a favourite’s chance here but the 9/2 available on Friday morning isn’t likely to last.

At bigger odds, I’d give Toca Madera a better chance than the market does. Brian Meehan’s three-year-old ran a cracker over this trip at Goodwood when a length behind Shagraan before winning well at Windsor.

He can be forgiven a lesser effort on what was his all-weather debut at Southwell last time, and he’s 2lb better off with Shagraan compared to Goodwood, so it makes little sense that he’s three times the price of that rival.

3.35 Betfair Sprint Cup Stakes (Group 1) 6f

Kind Of Blue needs to improve to take the Sprint Cup but he has come forward with each run to date having made his debut in April. It cannot be understated how unexposed he is in relation to his rivals, and he has run with tremendous credit in group races on his last three starts despite the fact that he’s been hindered by his relative lack of experience.

Every run is an education for him, and while he didn’t take a jolt forward in form terms when beaten a head by Givemethebeatboys in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh last time, he was finishing best, and Danny Muscutt probably wishes he’d asked for his effort slightly sooner as it took the son of Blue Point a few strides to gather himself before quickening.

Kind Of Blue appears held by Inisherin on Commonwealth Cup running (beaten four lengths into fourth) and by Elite Status, who beat him a length in the Hackwood Stakes, but he has improved from a BHA rating of 90 going into Ascot to a current mark of 109, which is testament to his progress.

It would be folly to assume he’s reached his peak after five runs. I’m banking on there being more to come, and he’ll relish a strong pace under today’s conditions.

Ascot Saturday

1.35 Bet365 Handicap 7f

Friday’s deluge at Ascot has left the track soft but not bottomless, and it’s likely to ride similarly on Saturday given a damp forecast.

The horse who makes most appeal in such conditions is last year’s Victoria Cup winner, Rebel Territory, who looked an improved performer for the combination of seven furlongs and soft ground last spring, winning at Newmarket and bolting up over course and distance despite going walkabout late on.

Amanda Perrett’s six-year-old had been absent for well over a year before reappearing at Goodwood a fortnight ago and looked as good as ever when sixth of 14 behind Qirat, his effort petering out late after taking a good hold.

That will have knocked the freshness out of him, and he can get back to winning ways if fully recovered from those exertions.

2.10 Chapel Down Handicap

1m 3f 211y

Goodwood Odyssey will relish the testing ground and comes here in excellent heart after winning at his local track a fortnight ago.

Fitted with blinkers for the first time, the son of Ulysses was a ready winner on soft ground at Goodwood and remains fairly treated having gone up 5lb for his latest run, which took his record to three wins from as many starts on ground softer than good. The headgear is retained here, and I see no reason why he can’t extend that sequence.

Recommended

Goodwood Odyssey 2.10 Ascot – 1pt win 4/1 (general)

Master Builder 1.50 Haydock – 1pt win 5/2 (general)

One For The Gutter 2.25 Haydock – 1pt e/w 8/1 (general – 4 places)

Toca Madera 3.00 Haydock – 1pt win 12/1 (general)

Kind of Blue 3.35 Haydock – 1.5pts e/w 16/1 (general – 4 places)