Rory Delargy

HAYDOCK SATURDAY

2.00 BETFRED MEMBERSHIP ‘PLAY YOUR WAY’ HANDICAP (2M45Y)

William Of Orange looks one of the best bets of the weekend in this staying handicap, and it’s notable that Sir Mark Prescott relies on him having also had likely sorts Alcaeus and Deauville Dancer among the five-day entries. The selection is a typical late bloomer, but impressed with how well he won a pair of handicaps here in September, and he was patently unsuited by the track at Salisbury on his return. That run may also have been needed, but he shaped with abundant promise, and should get back to winning ways sooner rather than later. The son of Duke Of Marmalade has a little to find with one or two of his rivals here, but he’s only had seven lifetime starts, and still looks a work in progress. The way he kept on last time suggests he’ll improve again for a try over two miles, and he will be hard to beat if improving again as expected.

2.35 BETFRED MOBILE SILVER BOWL STAKES (1M)

Brian Meehan has started the turf season in tremendous style, and he can add another valuable prize to his haul courtesy of Mutarakez, who impressed when taking the Esher Cup at Sandown on his handicap bow, and looked full value for that success. It’s true that Plymouth Sound failed to frank the form when a selection for this column a week ago, but a number of Eve Johnson Houghton’s horses have run unaccountably poorly of late, and that effort was too bad to be true. The Sandown contest is always a deep one, and the manner of Mutarakez’ win there suggests we’re only scratching the surface with this exciting prospect. He still looked rough around the edges, and it’s to be hoped that his natural progression will keep him ahead of the handicapper despite a double-digit weights rise.

3.10 BETFRED TV EBF STALLION STAKES (CECIL FRAIL) (6F)

It came as a minor surprise to see Aetna allowed to take her chance in the Duke of York Stakes at York last week given the going was on the fast side of good, but she acquitted herself well despite seeming to find things happening a little quickly, and she will be better off now racing on ground with ease in it. She’s also dropping in class, and should get the strong pace she needs to bring her finishing kick into play. She’s the best of these at the weights, and while more rain would be a positive, the official going description gives hope that she can do herself justice, and she may well go off a bigger odds than her best form would justify.

3.45 BETFRED.COM TEMPLE STAKES (5F)

Goldream did us a favour when winning the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket, and I see no reason to desert Robert Cowell’s sprinter now. A typical speedster in appearance, he’s taken time to fill his frame, and was much improved in handicaps last year, winning at Newmarket and Ascot, beating Abbaye winner Move In Time in the latter contest.

That shows how close top handicappers are to Group 1 performers at the minimum trip, and Goldream advertised his claims for a seat at the top table when beating several of these rivals on 2000 Guineas day.

There was no hint of a fluke about that performance, and the speed figure produced backs that notion up. Danzeno would be a danger if continuing the progress he showed as a three-year-old, but it’s often easier for that group given weight-for-age considerations, and he needs to have developed further in terms of physique.

Mick Appleby’s gelding is also hampered by an aversion to the stalls, and he’ll be poorly placed if slowly away from his inside draw in this field.

CATTERICK SATURDAY

3.00 TOTEQUADPOT HANDICAP (7F)

A couple of these are interesting from a handicapping perspective, with Poole Harbour thrown in on his old form having shown nothing in four runs for Dandy Nicholls in 2014. He now starts off for Karl Burke, and the change of stables may well see a revival, although the booking of an inexperienced apprentice does send rather mixed signals. Of more immediate interest is Rousayan, who hasn’t been with David O’Meara long, and was off the mark for his current yard at Beverley earlier in the month. He should prove a force again, but will be priced accordingly, and will have stiff competition for the lead in the shape of Dr Red Eye. As such, the value could lie in siding with Tim Easterby’s filly Breakable, who enjoyed a good three-year-old campaign, and has shaped better than the result in two runs this term. She met trouble at several stages of her latest race at Wetherby, and can prove she’s still fairly treated with a bit more luck, and a return to more positive tactics. Andrew Elliott takes over from Rachel Richardson, and the pair should offer punters value in an open race.

4.10 TOTEPOOL HANDICAP (7F)

Evanescent missed a midweek engagement at Ayr, and remains of interest off his current mark having found only the resurgent Birdman too strong at Thirsk three weeks ago. John Quinn’s charge has form on much softer ground, but conditions will be similar to those he met last time, and Joe Doyle has won on him before; the young rider’s claim will be a benefit here, and he merits plenty of respect. Finn Class and Fieldgunner Kirkup are dangers, with the latter representing a trainer/jockey combination which it may pay to follow throughout the season.

RECOMMENDED

WILLIAM OF ORANGE 2.00 Haydock - 2pts win

AETNA 3.10 Haydock - 2pts win

BREAKABLE 3.00 Catterick - 1pt win