Racing Chat - Saturday 28th May

[The Brigadier]

Haydock 1.45

This 5F listed contest revolves around the Roger Varian trained favourite Dragon Symbol who Varian acquired from Archie Watson and is officially rated the best horse here by 7lb but was disappointing on his first start for Varian at York only 17 days ago. He may well win this but at around the 2/1 mark looks poor value to my eyes and I’m happy enough to take him on with Raasel each way. The Horse Watchers consistent five year old gelding is stepping up into listed company for the first time but a mark of 101 puts him in the mix here if the favourite under performs again. James Doyle knows him well having ridden him to success on three of the four times he’s won for the Mick Appleby stable and after just 13 runs he could even still be improving.

 

RAASEL 1 point each way @ 11/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234

 

Beverley 2.05

The 5F Hilary Needler conditions stakes is for two year old fillies and has attracted a field of nine this year. The warm favourite is likely to be the David Loughnane trained Absolutelyflawless who will be ridden by William Buick. She has a big chance although her wins have come on the all weather and good to soft ground at Chester so has to prove herself on fast ground. Star Of Lady M may not have enjoyed the twists and turns of Chester when 4 1/2L behind Absolutelyflawless last time and can get closer today whilst an interesting runner is the Richard Hannon trained Distinguished Lady who races in the Amo Racing silks. She finished a 7 3/4L third at Newbury on her debut to a smart sort in Mawj with the runner up that day winning since. I’ll be keeping stakes small by think the most likeliest winner is Absolutelyflawless.

 

ABSOLUTELYFLAWLESS 2 points win @ 11/4 William Hill

 

Haydock 2.20

A competitive class 2 1m 4F handicap is up next with only a few of the thirteen participants in with a chance in my opinion. The most interesting runner is Mahrajaan from the very much in form William Haggas stable. He’s not been seen for 232 days though fitness could easily be an issue here. That will be no problem for David & Nicola Barron’s Contact, a winner of a valuable 1m 4F Newmarket handicap in April and 5lb higher in the weights now. The horse that stands out to me is bottom weight Forza Orta who ran Mahrajaan’s stable companion Gaassee to a length at York last time out. A 3lb rise may not stop Kevin Ryan’s progressive four year old going one better here and he’s a strong fancy.

 

FORZA ORTA 3 points win @ 7/2 William Hill

 

Beverley 2.40

A nine runner class 3 handicap that features one of the best bets of the day. Tim Easterby has brought his six year old Ugo Gregory around steadily this season and looks ready to win now. He adores this track having won three of his six starts here with his latest course and distance success coming off of the same handicap mark as todays last September (he followed up at York off of a 2lb higher mark the following month). He’s had three runs to get him fit and hopefully ready for today’s contest dropping 6lb and with Duran Fentiman in the saddle. The only negative against him is if the ground was to get rattling fast as he does prefer good ground. Top weight Percy’s Lad is chasing a hat trick following wins at Yarmouth and Nottingham this spring but has risen 11lb for that brace of victories. Wobwobwob is back at his favoured trip of 7F and maybe a bigger threat but for me this is all about Ugo Gregory.

 

UGO GREGORY 3 points win @ 4/1 William Hill

 

Haydock 2.55

Ten fillies or mares go to post for the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes run over 1m 4F of the Lancashire track. The best in at these weights is the Irish challenger Climate trained by Jessie Harrington who ran her best ever run when 4th in the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket last time out. Both Darlectable You and Lady Hayes are in foal to Frankel and hold place chances but the one I like here is Sea La Rosa from the unstoppable William Haggas stable who’s currently operating at a 38% wins to runs ratio. She hasn’t been seen since winning a listed race on the all weather at Lingfield last October but won first time out last season and can take this step up in grade in her stride with Tom Marquand doing the steering.

 

SEA LA ROSA 2 points win @ 5/2 Bet365

 

Beverley 3.15

Another two year old sprint at the Yorkshire track, this time for colts and geldings over 5F. Warm favourite is likely to be Whistle And Flute who will be hard to beat on the form book. Eve Johnson Houghton’s Dandy Man colt followed up his Bath victory with a credible 2nd to Andrew Balding newcomer Bakeel at Ascot with the horse 3L back in third winning since. That should be good enough to win this. The horse I fear most is the Andrew Balding runner Chateau who was an eye catcher on his debut at Salisbury when third to Remarkable Force who’s won since at Musselburgh. Jm Jungle has also had his Hamilton maiden win franked by the runner up going in again since whilst Rogue Spirit was a course and distance winner on his debut but has surprisingly been gelded since. The value may lie with Chateau here at a bigger price than Whistle And Flute.

 

CHATEAU 2 points win @ 9/2 William Hill

 

Haydock 3.30

The John Of Gaunt Stakes is a group 3 contest run over 7F for four year olds and upwards and has attracted a small but select field of eight this year. The best in at the weights is Ralph Beckett’s Kinross who actually won this contest by a comfortable length and a quarter last year and is back to defend his title. He loves to get his toe in and unless the ground dried up dramatically is the one to beat here on his seasonal re-appearance (he won this last year on the back of a 107 day break). There’s actually only 7lb between the whole field and bar the rag Catch Twentytwo a case can be made for all here. Andrew Balding’s Happy Power won well last time at Leicester but this represents a further step up in grade whilst the Gosden’s Sunray Major steps down in class having contested the group one Lockinge Stakes last time. He prefers fast ground however so any cut in the ground may not be ideal. As long as there’s sufficient ease in the ground I’ll take Kinross to win this contest for the second consecutive year.

 

KINROSS 2 points win @ 3/1 William Hill (no bet on good to firm)

 

Chester 3.45

As with all races here over 5-7F the draw is vitally important and this eleven runner class 2 7F 127 yards handicap is no different. Last years winner Boardman, trained by Tim Easterby is back to defend his title off of a 5lb higher mark and a favourable draw in stall 2 and has a terrific chance. Local trainer Hugo Palmer’s representative Fools Rush In finished just ahead of Boardman here earlier in the month and although 3lb better off may struggle to confirm the form as Boardman had a nightmare run that day. He’s the main bet but I can’t resist a small each way saver on Richard Hannon’s 9 year old Oh This Is Us who has also fared well with the draw in trap 3. Only a length behind Boardman earlier in the season at Haydock he’s 6lb better off now and has track figures of 11213. He can push Boardman all the way.

 

BOARDMAN 2 points win 5/2 William Hill

OH THIS IS US 1 point each way 13/2 Coral 1/5th 123

[richard-westwood]

110 hay 

He's a gentleman  8.6 10/1 

Papa cocktail   8.4  11/1 

Rated a few races but nothing really standing out ...this race looks wide open on paper but ratings have put these 2 a bit clear ....I'll try a speculative  5pts ew on both and a 1pt rev forecast ...