Flat Racing - Fri 14th Oct

[Cowan]

Haydock 5.20 - Opus Maximus (5.00 BOG) & Maz (11.00 BOG) A few horses contesting this race have not been on the flat turf handicap circuit recently. Some coming from AW, others entered into claimers, older horses falling through the ranks, and a couple of newcomers. The pace here should be quick and we will likely see a pace battle. Maggie Mey, Georgebernardshaw, and Horatio Carter will want the lead at some stage in the race, and most of the others will keep the pressure on them to do so. I'll side with the back-markers on this occassion. Opus Maximus is a 6yo veteran and a former class 2 animal and used to be owned by Mark Johnston before being picked up by a new trainer at the start of the season. The trainer states that Opus Maximus has been bought to contest races at the lower levels, presumably to see out its career with a few more bucks for its retirement. Has raced mainly in sellers and claimers since then which is a worry - but has been doing well, and came 2/16 by a head when contesting a handicap 2 runs ago. The mark has come down 18lbs since last season and is ridden by Sophie Doyle (3lb) who has come 2nd and 1st on this horse in its last two runs. A classy animal with a powerful turn of foot and well in at the weights. Maz is owned and trainer by Alan Bailey, who picked up a group 1 prize recently at Ascot. I like to see owner/trainer horses because you know that he is entering the horse into races with his own money, and not following the whims of an over-eager owner. Maz is 3yo and has races 4 times leaving her unexposed in this race where she is bottom weight with a 3lb bug onboard. The trainer obviously thinks highly of this one having had Spencer ride her. The truest sign of the animals ability came in its last run when coming 4/12 in a race that was unsuited to its running style. Another horse that looks in at the weights and could have more than enough class. Having selected nothing but favourites recently I was delighted to see a forecast of 10/1 for Opus Maximus, but is currently shaping up as favourite for tomorrow. I'm selecting horses a day early now in order to grab some tasty morning prices before they steam!

[TheBoyRooney]

Re: Flat Racing - Fri 14th Oct 8.00 DUNDALK DEVONELLI 20-1 1pt ew(BOYLES) Devonelli comes here off bottom weight for this Bookings at dundalkstadium.com Handicap with 14 going to post.With 3 reserves in place it should stay at that number..DEVONELLI from the Halford stable isn't a world beater.It's been quite poor on it's last two runs on turf but maybe it just doesnt like the green stuff,or else it just wasn't put into these races sitting out at the back. It does however handle polytrack well.For example in it's penultimate run it was easily beaten by president Lincoln at the curragh in May depite seeing off that opponent over this course and distance 14 days before hand off similar terms.So it does handle the poly track and shows a fair finishing speed in the straight.This hold up horse will sit out the back and try to take them on the run in and may be hard to stop.Claimer takes off handy 5 pounds but have gone ew due to 130 day absense. ::unsure