Haydock Saturday
1:15 Betfred Silver Bowl Handicap (Heritage Handicap) 1m 37y
It’s worth noting that most of the trainers represented in the Silver Bowl are underperforming in terms of recent winners and that is a worry for several of the market leaders.
Silent Move won over a slightly shorter trip here last time, getting first run on Cerulean Bay who caught the eye finishing fast for third having had to switch off the rail to find running room. David O’Meara’s gelding showed plenty of knee action that day and is a confident shout to reverse the form on this more testing ground.
1:50 Betfred Temple Stakes (Group 2) 5f
Makarova may offer some value in a tricky Temple Stakes. She ran with credit after winning a listed race at Ayr last year, beaten less than a length and three-quarters from a wide draw in the Prix de l’Abbaye at ParisLongchamp before finishing a place in front of Vadream in the British Champions Sprint at Ascot, despite again being drawn away from the main action.
She has shaped as if retaining all her ability in two runs this term, most recently chasing home the speedy Ponntos in the Group 3 Prix de Saint-Georges over the ‘Abbaye’ track and trip a fortnight ago.
Makarova is best produced late off a fast pace, and with Live In The Dream in the field, she should get the race run to suit here. It’s true that she often gives herself too much to do, but she should be cutting through runners late in the day and has a fair chance of picking up a slice of the prize money with her usual tactics employed.
Vadream has a similar chance on paper, and also makes a bit of appeal, but is a fraction of the odds-on offer for Makarova, which tips me firmly in the direction of the daughter of Acclamation.
2:25 Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2) 6f
Vandeek would look something to bet on based on his excellent juvenile form, but there have been a few reverses for the Crisford stable in the last week, with two fancied runners in recent days finishing tailed off. Vandeek may be unaffected by any malaise, but I don’t want to be backing him at 4/6 with any kind of doubt lingering over stable form.
At a big price, Airman could surprise. Unbeaten in two starts on soft and yielding ground, he defied market weakness to come out on top at Hamilton on his latest outing, still looking green but seeing the race out gamely.
There ought to be plenty more to come as he gets the hang of racing and he may well prove a good deal better than his initial rating.
3:00 Betfred Hattrick Heaven New Boston Handicap 7f 37y
Sterling Knight has won on both previous visits to Haydock and dropped below his last winning mark here, so makes plenty of appeal.
Badly positioned in a six-furlong Newmarket handicap last time, this hold-up performer should be better suited by the way this race pans out and he looked at least as good as ever when finishing strongly at Doncaster (said furlongs, soft) on his return.
His most recent win came over an extended seven furlongs at Wolverhampton with Morgan Cole riding, and he is taken to score again with her taking over again having missed the ride at Newmarket.
3:30 Betfred Nifty 50 Hell Nook Handicap 2m 46y
Both of his runs this season have come over trips too short, and last autumn’s Mallard Handicap winner Legendary Day looks something to bet on back at a staying trip, having quickly fallen below the mark he won that valuable Doncaster handicap off at the St Leger meeting.
Back up to two miles and with the excellent Saffie Osborne on board for the first time, I struggle to see why he is as big as 40/1 for a trainer who has had four winners and two others beaten a short-head from his last 20 runners on turf, and that’s not including a bumper winner at Southwell.
Goodwood Saturday
1:30 William Hill Harroways Handicap 7f
There is a significant draw bias over the seven furlongs at Goodwood when the going is good or faster, and nothing drawn higher than stall five has won this corresponding event in such conditions in the last decade, with the winning stall in that period (ignoring two runnings on soft/heavy ground) reading 3-5-4-2-3-2-3-3.
That points strongly in the direction of Al Shabab Storm, representing a yard with an excellent record in three-year-old turf handicaps this spring (seven wins from 35 runners) and this Advertise gelding went into the notebook when finishing well to be a neck second of 14 to Garfield Shadow in a six-furlong handicap at Chester last time.
Proven at this longer trip, he should benefit from the return to further and he appears the first pick from the yard, with Harry Davies preferring him to stablemate Gushing Gold.
2:05 William Hill Height Of Fashion Stakes (Listed) 1m 1f 197y
The highest rated fillies dominate the market here but Beeley may be worth backing to spring a minor surprise having failed to stay an extended mile and three furlongs in the Cheshire Oaks.
She looked sure to play a big part in the finish when producing a promising run at the entrance to the home straight, but failed to sustain that run and finished fifth to Forest Fairy, albeit beaten just over four lengths. I must admit that I thought the trip would suit her at Chester but the way she flattened out late suggests otherwise.
Perhaps Beeley just doesn’t find much for pressure and it’s interesting that she is now tried in cheekpieces, but she’s now caught the eye on all three starts, and I’ll give her one more chance to show herself ahead of her mark.
As the putative stable neglected, she should be a decent price, and Benoit de la Sayette rides the track well. The selection has been awkward at the stalls in the past, but behaved well at Chester and she had finished ahead of Musidora winner Secret Satire when runner-up on her return at Sandown.
York Saturday
2:45 William Hill Extra Place Races Daily Handicap 5f
Copper Knight disappointed here last time, having been back to form without cheekpieces at Chester two starts back, and he may well do better minus the headgear here again – he’s inconsistent these days but no horse has won more races at York in recent memory and he’s always capable of bouncing back from a bad run.
His course record on good ground when racing within 15 days of a previous outing is 11110, and the ground is likely to come back in his favour given the warm forecast.
Cerulean Bay 1:15 Haydock – 1pt win @ 10/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral – 9/1 general)
Makarova 1:50 Haydock – 0.5pts e/w @ 20/1 (Bet365 – 16/1 general)
Airman 2:25 Haydock – 0.5pts e/w @ 25/1 (Bet365 – 22/1 general)
Legendary Day 3:30 Haydock – 1pt e/w @ 40/1 (Paddy Power 5 places, general 4 places)
Al Shabab Storm 1:30 Goodwood – 1pt win @ 4/1 (Bet365, 7/2 general)