Haydock Saturday
1.45 Betway Handicap 6f
A high draw, particularly with trailblazing Hyperfocus in stall 11 to tow them along, looks a necessity in this contest, and punters should not be swayed by results from the track over the past couple of days, with a different alignment of the straight being used on the first two days of the meeting. It’s also likely that the ground will be heading from last week’s heavy to something more akin to dead ground, and that points very much in the direction of Bernardo O’Reilly.
Richard Spencer’s seven-year-old has an excellent record when the going is on the soft side of good, with a record in Class 3 contests at this trip of 112116 on such a surface.
I thought he shaped with loads of promise for the future when beaten under three lengths in a big field at Ascot on his return, and that should have put an edge on him. He’s been dropped 1lb for that encouraging run, putting him back on his last winning mark.
2.20 Betway Achilles Stakes (Listed) 5f
There’s clearly plenty of pace on, as you’d expect of older sprinters, with Ornate, Glamorous Anna, Zargun and El Astronaute all out-and-out speedsters. El Astronaute has the best pace of all, and might be best drawn to take advantage of that given he’s the sole speed among those drawn near the stands’ rail.
I started looking at this race with a view to opposing him, but the more I look the more it appears that he won’t really be pressed for the lead with Ornate on the other side of the track and the other pair arguably not quick enough to dominate at this level.
If he does go too fast, then Tarboosh and King’s Lynn look the likeliest pair to take advantage (the former was runner-up to El Astronaute when this was run at Doncaster last season), but I think both would prefer a stiffer finish at this trip, and John Quinn’s stalwart may just steal a winning advantage in the early yards.
3.30 Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3) 7f 37yds
John Quinn and owner Ross Harmon have prospects of a quick double with Safe Voyage looking for back-to-back John of Gaunt wins, but he may have to give best to others after a gruelling race in the Lockinge Stakes last time.
The best alternative at the prices may be the much-vaunted Kinross, who is likely to find this trip ideal after defeats over further at Meydan in the spring.
After a hugely impressive debut juvenile debut at Newmarket, the world seemed Kinross’s oyster, but while he ran with credit in the 2000 Guineas last term, he never really hit the heights he was thought capable of.
A win in the Listed Hyde Stakes at Kempton last November shows he still knows how to win, and he’s been gelded after failing to raise his game in the Middle East.
He’s never convinced me that he stays beyond a mile, and the drop back to seven furlongs could be ideal for him, and he certainly shaped that way when fourth in the Superior Mile here last September, fading inside the last having been produced to lead with a quarter of a mile to go.
He did flop over seven furlongs at Newbury next time, but that effort was too bad to be true, and he’s still young enough to get himself back on track, with gelding perhaps as much the key as the trip.
Beverley Saturday
2.00 Hilary Needler Trophy Fillies’ Conditions Stakes 5f
Kyber Crystal will be all the rage for this after her debut second to Wednesday’s easy National Stakes winner Ebro River when carried across the track by that rival.
My concern with her is that I thought she was spot on for debut, and the juveniles that Adrian Keatley has run this season have not been building on early promise, which is a concern.
Hester Prynne was quite impressive when scoring here on her debut despite looking like the run would do her good, but as a daughter of connections top-class miler Mondialiste, she will soon want a stiffer test.
Jazzy Princess is bred to be a smart early juvenile, and the Cool Silk Partnership have won this race twice in recent times, including with Kodyanna in 2018 who was scoring on her racecourse debut for Robert Cowell.
Her sire, Prince Of Lir, also won on this card on debut for Cowell before landing the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, and like him, his progeny tend to show their best form on soft ground.
As such, the market seems to have underestimated her chance and she is worth chancing at double-figure odds.
2.35 Price Promise At Bet365 Handicap 1m 100yds
I’m not sure this Class 4 handicap was quite the showcase ITV were anticipating when putting today’s action on their main channel, but it’s a competitive race with the prospect of an exciting finish given the nature of the Beverley track.
I suspect that the likeable Poet’s Dawn will be undone by the handicapper having gone up 6lb for winning a couple of similar events here on his last two starts.
It will be interesting to see how Conor O’Dwyer’s son Charlie gets on as he’s given the chance to ride this horse for the first time, but it’s a tricky track to get used to, and Charlie’s inexperience is a worry. Most of the field can be given a chance, in truth, but it might pay to throw a few shekels (no more) at the frustrating and inconsistent Three Saints Bay.
The gelding is on a long losing run, but he has won two of his three starts here, and showed a return to form for new trainer Liam Bailey at Ayr last time, typically travelling well.
He does tend to find little off the bridle, but he’s now 6lb lower than when winning over course and distance in 2018, his only try over track and trip.
All his runs since the start of 2019 have come over seven furlongs or shorter, and while he’s not certain to appreciate the return to an extended mile, it makes sense to give him another try at this particular venue.
Recommended
Bernardo O’Reilly 1.45 Haydock – 1pt win @ 14/1 (Bet365, SkyBet, BetVictor)
El Astronaute 2.20 Haydock – 1pt win @ 9/2 (BetVictor, Boyles etc)
Kinross 3.30 Haydock - 1pt win
@ 10/1 (general)
Winner
Rory tipped Raadobarg (11/2)
to win at Haydock last week