Tag: Haydock tips

Haydock Fixed Brush Hurdle Preview

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As well as a recognised Gold Cup Trial in the Betfair Chase, Haydock’s Saturday card also features the Grade 3 Fixed Brush Hurdle. This race has been won by some very useful sorts in its 8-year history, notably Halcon Genelardais, Grands Crus and Dynaste.

The last two of those were trained by the in-form David Pipe who saddled a four-timer at Cheltenham on Sunday paying over 5,000-1. His representative this year is a full-brother to Grands Crus in the useful Gevrey Chambertin.

The grey was heavily backed to win the Martin Pipe Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival in March but was never travelling and was eventually pulled up. He reappeared at Aintree but again weakened quickly in the home straight in the race won by At Fishers Cross. It may well be that he can bounce back to form here but it doesn’t look a risk worth taking at 7-1.

Paul Nicholls had to endure a frustrating weekend at Cheltenham last week with only one winner to show for his troubles. He looked sure to collect with Sametegal in the Greatwood Hurdle and again when Salubrious and Southfield Theatre battled out the finish of the staying handicap hurdle. Both were passed late on but the latter lost nothing in defeat and could turn out again here off the same mark. He travelled well throughout the race and makes plenty of appeal at the current prices.

Another I like here is Lucinda Russell’s Lie Forrit who returned to something like his best at Wetherby recently. He was a decent staying hurdler back in 2009 and won off a mark a few pounds higher than he is set to race off on Saturday. He made the running at Wetherby and, not surprisingly for a horse that had been over fences, he ballooned a couple of the early flights. He warmed to his task as the race went on and should run well again this weekend.

Alan King likes to get one ready for this and it would be no surprise to see Two Rockers run well whilst Gullinbursti is tough and comes from another in-form yard, that of Emma Lavelle. Trustan Times ran well last time but has a lot of weight to carry and Ely Brown is useful but would probably like it softer.

Southfield Theatre (each-way) 11-1 888Sport

Lie Forrit (each-way) 14-1 William Hill, Stan James

Haydock Saturday 7th September Preview

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At the time of writing, it looks as though the rain is going to change the going to soft for Haydock’s big Saturday card and that spells danger for form students. After months of good to firm going across the country, the established form could count for little if the ground changes drastically.

One trainer who has already voiced his concern is Clive Cox, responsible for Sprint Cup favourite Lethal Force. To be fair, Lethal Force has raced on good to soft on five occasions and finished in the first two in four of those races. It is not so much a question of his not acting on it as much as how it improves the chances of some of his rivals.

I am a great fan of Garswood and have followed him with interest this season. I was surprised when Richard Fahey took the Guineas route with him as I always felt perhaps seven furlongs would be as far as he wanted to go. He was heavily backed at Goodwood on good to soft ground last time but still appeared to need every yard of the seven furlongs to come out on top. He won the Harry Rosebery Stakes in heavy ground last season so you would think the more rain the merrier for him.

Another horse that is sure to benefit from the rain is Gordon Lord Byron who has been racing over a mile. He was second here last season and, with Johnny Murtagh booked, it is hard to rule him out. Earlier in the week I recommended Heeraat at 25-1 and Hawkeyethenoo at 40-1 and both have stood their ground. The rain will help Hawkeyethenoo and I’m optimistic that he can run into a place. Garswood is still available at 6-1 and that could be a good price if the ground is deep.

The opening sprint over five furlongs features the veteran Harrison George who is going for a hat-trick with Natasha Eaton on board. She has ridden him in both of his recent victories and they seem to have bonded nicely. She’s not afraid to gee him up when he needs it and he’s won when the mud is flying. He’s got enough stamina to win over a mile so I may have to join the rain dance with Richard Fahey and co this evening!

Montiridge is starting to look like a class act and he was walking all over Tawhid before Richard Hughes let him take control at Goodwood last time. He has won on all types of surfaces and there seems no reason to desert him in the modestly-named Superior Mile.

Pallasator tops the weights and the betting on the Old Borough Cup. He is making his seasonal reappearance having missed the Ebor after a dirty scope, a race for which he had been well supported. It has been a while since Sir Mark Prescott has had a really smart horse on his hands but the vibes suggest there is a big handicap in this fellow. He has won over course and distance in heavy ground so the rain holds no fears for him. I just wonder if he may need the race to put him straight and prefer the claims of Poyle Thomas at twice the price. He battled hard to win at Newbury and, although not proven on the ground, his pedigree gives him every chance of acting on it.

Harrison George 8-1 William Hill

Montiridge 6-4 Totesport

Garswood 6-1 Ladbrokes

*Ante-post Hawkeyethenoo 40-1, Heeraat 25-1

Poyle Thomas 8-1 Bet365

Betfred Sprint Cup Preview

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Haydock’s Betfred Sprint Cup on Saturday has attracted a field of 18 with July Cup winner Lethal Force a firm favourite at around 5-2. Clive Cox’s grey emerged as a contender for Champion Sprinter when winning the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot but it was his performance in the July Cup that put him at the top of the tree.

Settled in front by Adam Kirby, he was allowed to dictate a steady gallop before quickening at the two-furlong marker and readily holding Society Rock and Slade Power by a length and a half. Slade Power went on to win a Group 3 in Ireland before completely missing the break in the Nunthorpe and losing all chance. He was allowed to come home in his own time once it became clear that his chance had gone.

Clive Cox also runs the three-year-old Restless Abandon who ran a fine race at Haydock on his first outing of the season when beaten only a neck and a head by Kingsgate Native and Swiss Spirit. He next ran in the five-furlong King’s Stand Stakes where he finished a close fifth behind Sole Power without threatening to land a blow. Heeraat was sixth and Swiss Spirit finished eighth.

Gordon Lord Byron drops back from a mile after scraping home in a Group 3 at Leopardstown. He has finished behind Lethal Force at Ascot and Deauville this season. The most recent of those was the Maurice de Gheest where Lethal Force made the running before being overhauled by Moonlight Cloud. Gordon Lord Byron was second to Society Rock in this race 12 months ago but has generally looked more of a seven-furlong horse.

Aidan O’Brien relies on 2000 Guineas flop Cristoforo Colombo. He was beaten by Reckless Abandon in the Middle Park last season and has not raced since finishing over eight lengths adrift of Dawn Approach at Newmarket. Richard Fahey’s Garswood is an interesting contender but his style of racing suggests that a bit of cut will be needed if he is to have a chance over this trip. Ryan Moore had to get to work on him from some way out to get him up on the line in the seven-furlong Lennox Stakes at Goodwood.

Stewards’ Cup winner Rex Imperator was just touched off by Sirius Prospect at York over seven furlongs and takes a big step up from handicap company whilst Hamza has finished runner-up in his last three starts and is held by Heeraat on Newbury form. Mick de Kock relies on Kavanagh who made no show at Newmarket. Viztoria has not been seen since finishing sixth in the Coronation Stakes and is another that would benefit from any rain that falls. Former Stewards’ Cup winners Hoof It and Hawkeyethenoo have not shown a great deal in their recent starts.

Lethal Force should win this if he is in the same form as Ascot or Newmarket. Odds of 5-2 aren’t particularly attractive and there may be better value in the each-way market. Hawkeyethenoo was unlucky in the Duke Of York Stakes and was not far behind Society Rock. Things have not gone his way since but he was not disgraced in the Stewards’ Cup and he is better than a 40-1 shot. Heeraat is also worthy of consideration at 25-1 having finished close up behind Jwala at York.

Hawkeyethenoo 40-1 Paddy Power

Heeraat 25-1 Paddy Power

Haydock Park July 6th Ante-Post Preview

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Prices are now up on the two feature races at Haydock on Saturday, the Lancashire Oaks and the Old Newton Cup. The latest going reports suggest that it is good, good to firm in places but we can take nothing for granted after last week’s Northumberland Plate fiasco. When was the last time you had horses being withdrawn from the same race because it was too firm and too soft!

Assuming we avoid both extremes, we should be set for some excellent racing. I have mixed feelings about Opinion because I had tipped his stable companion Rye House at Ascot. It was a bit galling to see Ryan Moore switch to Opinion when Rye House was withdrawn and then proceed to bolt up.

Moore is on duty at Sandown on Saturday so Keiren Fallon has been provisionally booked for the ride. At the time of writing he is not yet a confirmed starter but I have about as much luck backing Fallon as I do with Jamie Spencer (i.e. none) so I’m inclined to pass him over. Only Camborne stands between Opinion and top weight and I’m not convinced that it was the greatest handicap ever run at Royal Ascot.

Behind Opinion were Ustura, Blue Surf, Hanoverian Baron and Highland Castle. You can forget the finishing position of Highland Castle as he never saw daylight at any stage. Luca Cumani loves preparing one for this race but I’m not sure that Franciscan fits his usual profile. It is true that he ran his best race for a long time at Carlisle last time but it was still only Carlisle. I think I will pass this race over until running plans are confirmed.

The one that interests me in the Lancashire Oaks is Godolphin’s Albasharah. She reeled off three victories before being pitched into a competitive handicap at the Royal meeting. She was sent off as favourite despite a 16lb hike in the weights and may well have won if she had got any sort of run in the race. De Sousa has been riding well but, for whatever reason, Albasharah never had a chance and did well to stay on strongly into fifth. This represents another step up in class but she could be good enough.

Wild Coco and Songbird are not yet certain runners from Lady Cecil’s stable and Banoffee didn’t settle properly in the Oaks or at Chester and may struggle to last home. Moment In Time and Midnight Soprano also have chances but I’ll take a chance on Albasharah at 6-1.

Lancashire Oaks
Albasharah 6-1 BetVictor