WILLIAM Haggas started the season strongly, and there is no sign of his metronomic strike-rate relenting any time soon. Since the start of the turf season, he has had 52 winners in Britain, more than any other trainer, and he and Charlie Appleby are the only two trainers who have broken through the £1 million mark in prize money won.

More than that, in the last two weeks, he has had 16 winners from 42 runners. That’s a strike rate of 38%, and that is remarkable, with that many runners. And 40 of those 42 runners finished in the first six. So, you have to take note of everything that runs from Somerville Lodge.

Mahrajaan is one of the most interesting of the five Haggas runners today, and he has a real chance in the Betfred Double Delight Handicap at Haydock.

Unraced as a juvenile, the Kitten’s Joy gelding was nicely progressive last season as a three-year-old, winning three on the bounce over 10 and 12 furlongs after shaping encouragingly on his debut on Newmarket’s July Course in June.

He was beaten on his final run last season in a Class 2 handicap at York over a mile and six furlongs, but he still ran well in defeat. He was well back in the field early on that day in a race in which the pace held up well, but he kept on well to take third place behind Surrey Gold and Star Caliber, who both raced handily from early. The runner-up led after a furlong, and the winner raced in the first four from early and moved into second place at the top of the home straight. Mahrajaan did well to get as close as he did from further back in the field.

Star Caliber hasn’t run again since, but Surrey Gold ran well on his debut this season, just going down by a neck in a competitive handicap at Goodwood, racing off a handicap rating of 90, 6lb higher than his York mark.

Potential

Mahrajaan raced off a handicap rating of 95 at York, and he is just 1lb higher today, which is fair. He has the potential to go beyond his mark of 96 this season now as a four-year-old.

You can’t say that he didn’t stay the 14 furlongs on his final run last season, but he will probably be more comfortable back down at 12 furlongs today, at least for his seasonal debut. He is out of Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf winner Lahudood, and his pedigree is all 10 and 12 furlongs. The long home straight at Haydock should suit him, and he could go close.

Haggas fields the favourite in the Group 3 Betfred Pinnacle Stakes in Sea La Rosa, and she is a big player. She progressed nicely last season as a three-year-old too, winning a novice stakes at Chepstow in June when she was rated 77, and rounding off her campaign by landing a listed race at Lingfield in October.

She is a worthy favourite, but Climate may have been under-rated by the market. Jessica Harrington’s filly had no luck in-running in the Group 3 Pride Stakes at Newmarket last October. Sent off at 40/1 that day, she didn’t have a lot of room towards the far side as they raced inside the two-furlong marker.

The race developed away from her as Ville De Grace came with her winning run towards the near side, but Climate kept on nicely through traffic to take fifth.

The Australia filly proved that there was no fluke about that run on her debut this season when, back at Newmarket for the Group 2 Dahlia Stakes, she finished a close-up fourth to Dreamloper and the same Ville De Grace. She raced towards the near side that day, and she got a little outpaced as they raced into the Dip, but she came home strongly up the hill.

Enhanced

Ville De Grace did disappoint in the Middleton Stakes at York next time, but the form of the Dahlia Stakes was still enhanced by Lilac Road, who finished a half a length behind Climate at Newmarket and who won the York race. (There’s that man William Haggas again.)

Climate was making her seasonal debut in the Dahlia Stakes, so there is every chance that she will step up from that. Also, she is interesting now stepping up to a mile and a half for the first time. Her dam won over six furlongs, and she is a half-sister to Power, but she is also a three-parts sister to Curvy, who won a Ribblesdale Stakes for David Wachman, and she is a half-sister to another Ribblesdale winner in Thakafaat. More than that, she races over nine and 10 furlongs as if she will improve for a step up to a mile and a half, and she could run a big race today.

Recommended

Mahrajaan, 1pt win, 2.20 Haydock, 9/2 (generally)

Climate, 1pt win, 2.55 Haydock, 7/2 (generally)

One of Donn’s two recommended bets last week was King’s Lynn, who won the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock (SP 5/1).