Hi all,
A good start to the weekend with an Ascot Double on Friday.
What a fabulous days racing with Haydock & Ascot both providing high quality action for ITV viewers.
Twelve months ago, the Grade 1 Betfair Chase was slightly overshadowed by Altior and Cyrname running in the Grade 2 at Ascot. No problem this year and it’s the Haydock race that will rightly capture all the racing headlines.
This is my in depth preview of eight races at Haydock and Ascot. Five of them on ITV which allows you to digest some of Saturday races at leisure.
My final Saturday selections will be with you early tomorrow morning.
Haydock
12:40 – Betfair Supports Safer Gambling Week Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 3m 1 ½ f
This handicap chase isn’t on ITV but it’s a competitive race that has attracted a good field of 12 runners.
The market is likely to be headed by Secret Reprieve. The 6-year-old had three starts over fences last season and looks to be on a good mark for his handicap chase debut. Won on heavy ground over hurdles so goes on easy ground. First run since last December but likely fit enough for this. Trainer Evan Williams won the race in 2011.
Deise Aba got his act together over fences in the second half of last season winning twice before finishing a respectable 5th of 23 in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham. Better expected from the 7-year-old this season and his main aim is the Welsh Grand National.
Bob Mahler finished two places in front of Deise Aba in the Kim Muir. Prior to that he had finished strongly to win the 4m 1f Edinburgh National. Pulled up on his seasonal reappearance and has since had a wind-op. Handicapped to run well although he probably won’t the ground to soft. Trainer form is a concern as Warren Greatrex has gone 32-days since saddling a winner.
Newtide is another being aimed at the Welsh Grand National. All winning form on soft ground and won on his seasonal reappearance, beating Secret Reprieve 2 ½ lengths. That one gets 10lb from him today so Newtide will have to have improved over the summer to beat the favourite.
Ice Cool Champs returned from a 323-day absence to win on his stable debut for Kerry Lee at Wetherby (soft) in January. Disappointed on his next two starts but is maybe the type to catch fresh. All three wins on soft/heavy and Sam Twiston-Davies 3-15 +18.75 when teaming up with trainer Kerry Lee. On a good mark and has each way claims.
1:50 – Betfair Racing Only Bettor Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 2m 3f
Seventeen have been declared for what looks a really competitive handicap hurdle.
Recent Ascot winner Kid Commando. The handicapper has only raised him 7lb for that success which isn’t harsh and he’s open to more improvement. No problem with soft ground, form figures 1211 on the going. Steps up 3 furlongs in trip but if he stays, he will be tough to beat.
Flash The Steel was an excellent second in a valuable handicap hurdle at Chepstow last month. He was 8lb higher than when winning the same race 12 months earlier. The ground was plenty quick enough at Chepstow and today’s easier ground will suit the 8-year-old better.
Arrivederci bids for a hat trick after making a winning seasonal reappearance at Wetherby three weeks ago. No issues with going/distance for the 5-year-old who has been raised 8lb for his last win. Open to more progress and is one for the shortlist.
Shakem Up’Arry a useful novice last season finishing runner-up to both Shishken & Mister Coffey. Broke his maiden tag over hurdles at the fifth attempt at Ffos Las 13-days ago. Handicap debut off a workable mark and shouldn’t be far away.
Umbrigado looked to be travelling like the most likely winner coming to three out in the stayers’ handicap hurdle on this card 12 months ago before his stamina ran out. Not so good on his next two starts but starts the season on a good mark and this distance could suit the 6-year-old.
Our Power seemed to get his act together over hurdles for stepping up in distance in the second half of last season culminating in a win a valuable 2m 5f handicap hurdle at Kempton in March. Ran a very promising race when 6th of 19th at Cheltenham on his return to action last month. Will be fitter for that run and will be more suited to this flatter track.
14:25 – Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – 3m ½ f
A maximum field of 17 has been declared for arguably the big betting race of the day.
Recent Fontwell, soft ground winner Collooney is up 5lb for that success but has the scope to improve for the step up to 3m.
Imperial Alcazar has been backed into favouritism this week. The 6-year-old looked a useful prospect when beating three rivals at Leicester 297-days ago. Both his career wins have come on soft and heavy. Unexposed and could be on a good mark for his handicap debut.
Dolphin Square & Third Wind were second and fifth respectively in a Pertemps Series Qualifier at Newbury 16-days ago. The latter has three lengths to find on that running but is 2lb better off. An excellent 4th of 24 in last season’s Pertemps Final. I fancy that Third Wind can finish in front this time, especially as his form figures on soft/heavy are 11114.
Seven-year-olds are 0-35 5 placed in the past ten years. However, there are couple of lively contenders from that age group in Main Fact and The Jam Man.
The Jam Man showed he was a well handicapped horse over the larger obstacles when easily wining the valuable Troytown Handicap Chase 13-days ago. Another big run can’t be ruled out back over hurdles.
Main Fact has been well placed to take advantage of low handicap mark to win three times on the flat. Ended last season very much on the upgrade over hurdles winning his last five starts, including a 2m 4f Class 2 handicap at Uttoxeter in March. Up 15lb for that win but may not have reached his class ceiling yet. First start beyond 2m 4f and although he’s not certain stayer on pedigree he shapes like he will. Trainer David Pipe knows what’s required to win the race 3-12 +5.5 in the past ten years.
Relegate won the Champion Bumper in 2018 for previous trainer Willie Mullins. Was sent off the 11/2 joint favourite for the Pertemps Series Final at Cheltenham on just her second start for Colm Murphy. Was set to much to do but finished her race of well enough to finish 5th of 24, just one place behind Third Wind. Caught the eye on her Navan reappearance and gets the first time cheekpieces which will hopefully help her travel better as she can get too far out of her ground in her races.
West To The Bridge put in a career best effort over hurdles when winning at Carlisle (heavy) 20-days ago. All four of the 7-year-old career wins have come on soft/heavy so underfoot conditions will hold no terrors for him. Stamina for 3m to still to be proven but trainer Dan Skelton saddled the winner of the race in 2015. Up 7lb for his Carlisle win and in a deeper race but still comes into consideration.
Who Dares Wins is a thorough stayer and has been a wonderful servant for connections having won at Royal Ascot and the Northumberland Plate on the flat and won over fences. Three wins from 13 starts over hurdles but his best performances over the smaller obstacles came when third in the 2017 Coral Cup and close-up in a valuable handicap hurdle at Aintree a year later. The 8-year-old is nicely handicapped on his best hurdle form and should give it a good go if the ground isn’t too testing.
3:00 – Betfair Chase (Grade 1) – 3m ½ f
Just five are set to go to post for this year’s race. If we assume that Bellshill & Keeper Hill are competing for the minor money and 4th place. That leaves last years first and second Lostintranslation & Bristol De Mail and Clan Des Obeaux as genuine contenders for the £90,032 on offer to the winner.
Lostintranslation had the benefit of run when winning last year. He will be making his seasonal debut here. The Tizzard runners have been needing their first runs but I think he will pretty much spot on for this. The 8-year-old’s form figures are 211 when returning from a 121+day absence. His sole poor run last season came when pulling up in the King George VI. The wind-op he had after Kempton seemed to have worked the trick as he was an excellent third in the Gold Cup.
It’s no exaggeration to say this is Bristol De Mai’s Gold Cup. A dual winner of the race in 2018 & 2019. He’s 4-5 at Haydock and last year was the first time he had been beaten at the course. No issues first time up and if the ground did become really testing, he would have a serious chance of reversing places with Lostintranslation.
Clan Des Obeaux looks a shade overpriced at around 3/1, as he’s joint top on Official Ratings (OR). However, he’s 0-4 on his first run of the season compared with 4-4 on his second start and was only 4th in the race in 2018. That said he’s a better horse now than he was two years ago and I think trainer Paul Nicholls will have the 8-year-old straight for this. Flat track suits as does soft ground. But is he a better horse at 3m?
3:35 – My Odds Boost On Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m 4 ½ f
Don Poli very useful for Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott placing in the Gold Cup and in Grade 1 chases. Won twice in point to points last season and is now with Dan Skelton. Ran well for a long way in a Veterans’ Chase at Aintree on his stable debut last month. Trainer says he’s hard to get fit and he will have needed his reappearance. On a tempting handicap mark if building on his Aintree run.
Pobbles Bay finished two places in front of Don Poli at Aintree. The 10-yearpold showed there that he hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for the game and is now down to his last winning mark. Last win came over today’s distance in the West Wales National at Ffos Las in April 2019 and he can’t be ruled out off this mark.
Kings Monarch returned for the first time since pulling up last December, when winning 3m handicap chase at Ffos Las (Heavy) last month. He finished third in this race 12 months ago and remains unexposed over marathon distances.
Perfect Candidate is now a 13-year-old but he showed he could still be capable of winning in this company when successful in this race 12 months ago. Seasonal return at Aintree will have blown the cobwebs away and he can’t be discounted, even off 5lb higher.
Sheneededtherun improved to win four handicap chases last season and showed good reserves of stamina to win over 3m 5 ½ f at Bangor in February. Below her best but not disgraced when 4th of 14 in the Midlands Grand National on her final start last season. Now 8lb higher than for her last win but she goes well on soft/heavy ground.
Alminar is 2-8 over fences and made a promising return to action when 3rd of 13 at Cheltenham last month. The 7-year-old goes very well on soft/heavy ground and looked the sort who could improve for a marathon trip like this.
Midnight Tune loves heavy ground and stays very well but her best form has come in field sizes seven or less. First run since a wind-op and if it’s had the desired effect then mare looks set for a bold run.
Financial Outcome travelled and jumped nicely to win a 3m 2f handicap chase Doncaster in February. However, his jumping has let him down on several occasions since. Runner-up to Kings Monarch on his seasonal return at Ffos Las. Sent off the 3/1 favourite for his next start at Wetherby but made a bad mistake at the 6th and that was his race run. If he can reproduce his run behind Kings Monarch then he’s a contender.
Ascot
Three races come under the microscope. The first isn’t on ITV but it’s a decent looking 3m novices’ handicap chase.
12:55 – Play The Coral “Racing Super Series” Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m
Demachine and Young Bull were first and third in what looks like it was a good novices’ handicap chaser at Uttoxeter with the runner-up Morning Vicar going onto win next time out. The winner has been raised 10lb for that win but it was just his first start over fences and can rate higher. Young Bull might well have needed the run more than the winner and he’s entitled to get closer on 9lb better terms for a 7 ½ length beating. The step up to 3m should also be in his favour and I think he can finish ahead today. You can never rule out a Venetia Williams chaser on soft ground and Hold That Thought must be respected. Runner-up on his handicap debut at Lingfield last month. Up 4lb for that performance but he’s started chasing on a good mark and won’t be far away.
2:05 – Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 5f
Like the Betfair Chase It’s a small but select field for the race, in this case just the four runners. However, you can’t discount any of them. Paul Nicholls saddles Real Steel & Black Corton. The former is having his first start since joining the yard from Willie Mullins. He was very good going right-handed when trained in Ireland. Imperial Aura impressed when making a winning seasonal return at Carlisle. Thus, maintaining his improved form of last season over fences which saw him win a valuable handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Itchy Feet unseated his rider in the Arkle Novices’ Chase at the Festival but prior to that had impressed when winning a Grade 1 Novice Chase at Sandown. Jumping was a bit rusty on his seasonal reappearance when finishing third in the Old Roan Handicap Chase at Aintree last month. Expected to be fitter today and although he will need to improve again to win this. It’s worth noting he’s 2-2 going right-handed over fences.
3:17 – Coral Hurst Park Handicap Chase – (Class 2) – 2m 1f
Magic Saint appreciated the drop back to 2m when winning at Cheltenham 8-days ago. Can’t be ruled out but he’s up 7lb makes life tougher and he’s 0-4 on soft ground. Stablemate Capeland who won this race 12 months ago. Now 7lb higher, he unseated his rider at the 6th over C&D and gets the first time cheekpieces. Looks a stronger contender than Magic Saint on soft ground.
Amoola Gold won that Ascot race which made it 2-2 this season for the 7-year-old. Has a 6lb more to carry here but given he’s only had the 8 starts over fences you couldn’t rule out further improvement.
Drumconnor Lad might be a 10-year-old but he put in a career best effort when winning at Ayr on his return to action three weeks ago. Up 5lb for that win and racing off a career high mark but given his present form can’t be ruled out.
Abbey Magic is a rare handicap runner from the Henry De Bromhead stable. Has returned from a 678-day absence in great form finishing runner-up on her first run back before making it 4-5 over fences when landing a valuable Cork handicap chase last month. Has 3lb more to carry than she would if racing in Ireland but not impossible she can improve further.
First Flow a useful enough hurdler improved for going over fences last season winning 4 of his 8 starts. Seasonal reappearance today and whilst he’s won on soft, he’s even better on heavy with his form figures being 31111. No great record first time up being 0-4 1 placed on his first run of the season. Likely on winning mark if ready to roll but may not run unless the ground is genuinely soft according to trainer Kim Bailey.
Cheers
John