The ITV Racing cameras focus on three different locations on Saturday, though their primary course for the day is Haydock. In the five races from the north west venue at the weekend, our in-house tipster Joe Napier has four best bets.
1.15 Haydock – Betfred Silver Bowl Handicap
The forecast could change things at Haydock on Saturday, but the track’s propensity to run softer than anywhere else should bear out given they watered earlier in the week, coupled with recent rain. I am hoping there remains at least some soft in the description for rank outsider YOKOHAMA, who may prove far from a no-hoper.
His most talented half-sibling Questioning, a full 13 years his elder, recorded her best two RPRs on good-to-soft and heavy ground, while many of his sire Make Believe’s best progeny have gone on a more testing surface too. As yet, John Butler’s charge has not encountered that in three starts and can be excused his Newmarket effort latest for potentially failing to handle the track.
A mark of 86 underestimates his Listed fifth of eight the time before at Newcastle, when he mixed it with horses rated significantly higher. Those who finished third and fourth in his maiden victory last term have both recorded multiple wins themselves since, so there is more depth there than at first glance and improvement may be to come from him if granted slow ground.
2.25 Haydock – Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)
Star unbeaten juvenile Vandeek is set to make his reappearance here and connections have almost certainly done the right thing in remaining at sprint distances rather than succumb to any Classic temptations. That said, he is not a certainty to be fully firing for this first time out with Royal Ascot the main aspiration, and the lack of evidence as yet that he has trained on is enough to avoid quotes of odds-on here.
There is a chance he could meet a serious match here anyway in the shape of INISHERIN, sixth in the 2000 Guineas three weeks ago. Kevin Ryan’s charge travelled like a dream through that race, still looking firmly in contention within the final 2f only to falter late on.
His previous form, when second and first in a pair of maiden and novice events, has generally been firmly franked and it is well worth giving him a chance over sprint distances. He should be able to hold his own for pace and give even a fully fit Vandeek a fright.
Irish 2000 Guineas Tips – Preview of Ireland’s Opening Classic
The first Classic of Ireland’s flat season, the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh, takes place on Saturday. With significant British and Ballydoyle interest, Joe Napier previews the contest and gives his 1-2-3 selections. ROSALLION (Richard Hannon/Sean Levey) Had the relatively left-field 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech not emerged so gargantuanly from the all weather,…
Thu 23 May 20243.00 Haydock – Betfred Hattrick Heaven New Boston Handicap
This handicap has attracted an unusually small field, though it looks to be a competitive one. The pick of the prices looks to be STERLING KNIGHT, one of only two in the field who will not be challenging for favouritism based on current odds, but those may be slightly awry.
5lb claimer Morgan Cole is enlisted. She has been hitting the crossbar in the last two weeks, with four seconds and a third from only six rides, though two of those places were at 10/1 and 12/1. It is a claim that is almost certainly going to pay dividends again soon, and Ed Dunlop’s charge may be the one to benefit.
He ran well on soft at Doncaster on his return, finishing third of 16 under Cole off 1lb higher, and won on his most recent two starts at Haydock back in September and October 2022, the latter on heavy. However, regardless of conditions on the day, he looks versatile and recorded his first win over this 7f trip at Wolverhampton last autumn. His mark is kind enough on that evidence.
3.30 Haydock – Betfred Nifty 50 Hell Nook Handicap
Emiyn and Law of The Sea could be primed to back up placed efforts in the Chester Cup and Vase respectively. However, the mare DIVINE COMEDY has been a consistent improver for Harry Eustace and may not have reached her ceiling just yet,
Her return at Doncaster over 1m4f saw her finish a satisfactory third of seven given that would be her minimum ideal distance nowadays. She won second time out for the season last term, as well as on her second start after a 119-day mid-season break. The first of those successes was over 1m4f on good, the second 1m6f on soft.
She is clearly a versatile and doughty performer, with her first effort over 2m coming last November at Kempton. She was a staying on third that day, so the trip should not inconvenience her and the hope is she is cherry ripe to take advantage of jockey Kaiya Fraser’s 5lb claim.
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