There is loads of racing to enjoy this weekend and Matty Sutcliffe is looking at landing some pricey winners on Saturday. He has six tips for you to follow across the ITV races, including one who has won at 80/1 for him in the past…
1:30 Goodwood – BetGGoodwin Harroways Handicap (Class 2) (3yo) – Principality 18/1 0.5pt EW 5 places
I put up both Rare Change and PRINCIPALITY in the GG Weekend Watch Podcast, but for the nature of this column, I’ll stick with the larger priced Principality who looks a touch overpriced presumably due to the wide draw in stall ten.
The son of Calyx was a promising two year, finishing a length second to Ancient Truth at Newmarket on debut who landed the G2 Superlative Stakes prior to his 1/2L third in the G1 Dewhurst Stakes.
He then had Rare Change six lengths in behind when coming from last to first at Goodwood over six furlongs in relatively easy fashion, with the second bumping into the subsequently 98 rated Jouncy next time out.
They evidently thought he was smart enough to contest the G2 Railway Stakes next time out, but he never appeared happy there having been upset in the stalls and he bounced somewhat back to form in listed company at Newbury, finishing a head head behind a subsequent listed winner now rated 99.
He was gelded a month after his disappointing all-weather debut but we can discount that, and he arguably needed the run on stable debut at Newmarket earlier this month when fairly weak in the market where it paid to race up the centre.
He stuck to his task well enough there to suggest a step up in trip would suit, unsurprisingly given he’s a half brother to two winners milers and his dam won over this trip. The return back here will suit and given he’s one of just two course winners, he looks a worthy play at the prices.
2:25 Haydock – Betfred ‘Nifty 50’ British EBF Hedge Of Oak Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Francophone 8/1 1pt WIN
On the figures, this should be a route for Running Lion but she’s hardly one to trust given she’s won just one of her last ten starts, and she was well beaten in the Dahlia Stakes once again this season. I’m not overly keen on the chances of Diamond Rain who bombed out on quick ground at Ascot last season and her Listed Newbury success failed to work out too.
Tasmania looks short enough given she generally needs soft ground and failed to make an impression on stable debut from a 267-day layoff last June so I’d expect her to need this, and a chance is taken on FRANCOPHONE, who took the listed Height Of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood on this weekend last season prior to her form tailing off toward the latter stages.
She was a touch disappointing at Nottingham when the fresh angle should’ve been fine, but she took a keen hold throughout there and despite travelling well, she couldn’t mount her challenge presumably due to her keen exertions.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see her come on from that effort and while she was beaten by Secret Satire in the Musidora last season, the winner was potentially flattered by her low draw. Connections won this last season with Madame Ambassador who’s related to Francophone, and given her respected form figures in listed company, she looks one of the more assured fillies to run a sound race provided she steps forward from that Nottingham run.
3:00 Haydock – Betfred Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo) – Powerful Glory 11/2 1pt WIN
Richard Fahey won this with Sands Of Mali from stall six in 2018 and I’d be of the opinion that POWERFUL GLORY could be as good as that one on what we’ve seen thus far.
He’s been chucked in at the deep end here and deservedly so. The son of Cotai Glory bolted up in the manner of a smart one at Pontefract despite taking a keen grip, pulling five lengths clear from the second and six lengths clear from the third who not only won next time out, but was third in the G1 Middle Park and ran creditably in the Commonwealth Cup Trial now rated 102.
Powerful Glory then stepped up to the Mill Reef against a whole host of experienced two year olds, but gamely got up in heavy going to fend off La Bellotta, who franked that form to win the listed Prospect Stakes at Doncaster. The next four home that day have all placed in Listed/group company since, and I see no reason as to why he can’t train on to be a smarter three-year-old.
3:15 Goodwood – BetGoodwin Height Of Fashion Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo) – Perfect Your Craft 7/1 1pt WIN
Ralph Beckett won this with the once-raced Aloe Vera in 2019 and PERFECT YOUR CRAFT can follow suit. The daughter of Mastercraftsman was one of two Valmont entered fillies in here, with the 88 rated Lady Vivian, who beat the now 96-rated Caspi Star two starts back, on the back bench for Perfect Your Craft.
She was well backed to win on debut at Salisbury last October when beating two of her connections horses in good style having had to switch right and just getting up in the nick of time. Arc heroine Bluestocking won that race for the yard in 2022, and I wouldn’t be all that concerned she meets different ground here given the dam was a dual winner on good ground.
3:30 Haydock – Betfred Temple Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – American Affair 4/1 2pt WIN
The price has sadly halved for AMERICAN AFFAIR, who was 8/1 shortly after declarations but I’d kicked myself for not backing him here given the dominance within which he won at York with.
I thought a 4lbs swing in the weights would be enough for JM Jungle to reverse the Musselburgh form with him and it looked assured two furlongs out that he would, but American Affair did remarkably well to win a shade cosily, defying the pace and draw bias. He was marginally last at one stage on the near side under a keen hold, but once he was shifted to the centre he ended up winning a shade cosily to find himself on the nearside ahead of JM Jungle and that performance (111 RPR) suggested he more than ready for this step up in grade.
He defied a seven day turnaround to land the Portland Stakes last season so I’m not concerned about this nine-day gap, and his placed form at the course further boosts enthusiasm.
3:40 Curragh – Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (Group 1) (No Geldings) (3yo) – Rashabar 20/1 1pt EW 3 places
My old mate RASHABAR looks a rock solid each-way play in here on the back of his three-year-old debut last month. He made the running on the nearside group under Sean Levey and fared best of the prominent runners, setting the race up for Jonquil in his slip stream who franked that form next time out with a head second to Henri Matisse in the French 2000 Guineas, finishing a length ahead of Camille Pissarro who just touched of Rashabar in the Prix Jean Luc-Lagadere, so the form holds up.
Connections were adamant that Rashabar would come on for that effort and after skipping the French 2000 Guineas, he should be primed to within an inch of his life here. He came on for his debut last season when second at Chester despite a wide draw, and he bettered his RPR at Longchamp after 61-day break so he evidently steps forward for a run, and given he’s a son of Holy Roman Emperor out of a Camelot mare from a family of milers (as well as entered in the Eclipse), this mile trip can surely only bring out further improvement.
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