The horse racing broadcaster offers his picks from Saturday’s racing, including a selection in the feature race at Haydock.
Abandonments with soft ground in the South and drying ground with sunshine on Merseyside mean keeping an eye on conditions will be important this weekend.
Haydock is one of the most volatile tracks ground-wise in the country and it may end up on the fast side of good by the time of the feature race – the Group 1 Sprint Cup over the straight 6f. The stands-side straight course will be in action for the first time this week on Saturday and the open nature of the division is shown by the large field size. Inisherin had looked to be one of the potential stars of the season until his below-par run last time, and preference is for SWINGALONG (15:35 Haydock), who ran well close to a solid pace when second in the July Cup. He is drawn in stall 15 here so will be able to bag the near-side rail under William Buick ,who rides as Clifford Lee has chosen stable companion Elite Status and Sam James in suspended.
Earlier in the afternoon, MASTER BUILDER
5/2
(13:50 Haydock) gives Buick another major chance. He performed well at York on his first try at this trip on only his fourth career start, and even though the handicapper has raised him another 3lb there looks a fair bit more to come from this progressive young stayer. He first caught my eye on debut at Windsor when he ran second. David Menuisier is 0/64 with three-year-old debutants so any that run well first time up are well worth following.
KNIGHTSWOOD
15/2
(14:25 Haydock) deserves a change of fortune in the Old Borough Cup, having been unlucky here earlier in the season and also at Goodwood. On both occasions he was unable to get a run when clearly travelling well. The return to 1m6 will suit and his inside draw is an advantage in the decent-sized field as the first bend looms quickly. It will commit him to the rail so, once again, he will need the breaks but is better than his form figures suggest and is worthy of support.
Over at Kempton, there looks to be a tempo angle that makes HIERONYMUS
25/1
(15:15 Kempton) appeal in the competitive Mile Series Final. There is not much pace here and he has a good record at the track and can outrun his odds.
The prospect of testing conditions at Ascot makes HOT FUSS
/
(15:20 Ascot) look the best bet on the card. Runner up at Goodwood in similar conditions last time, like many by the sire Calyx he seems to come into his own when the mud is flying. Calyx is 17/55 (A/E 1.65) on soft and heavy ground combined, and his progeny are worth keeping an eye on as we move into the Autumn, especially any who have earned their handicap marks on a faster surface.
JOCKEYS FOR COURSES
Here are tockeys in action at tracks where they have a good career record.
Haydock: Franny Norton (96/754, A/E 1.25) has just one solitary ride on Irish raider Just Say Ever in the Old Borough Cup at 14:25.
Kempton: Neil Callan (140/990, A/E 1.20) has a full book of rides including Cemhaan (14:35) in the Sirenia who he has ridden to victory on his last two visits to the track.
Stratford: Harry Bannister (26/116, A/E 1.66) has only mount is Nickelforce who may benefit from a strongly run 17:20
Wolverhampton: Raul Da Silva (42/ 400, A/E 1.37) is another with just one ride on State of Madness in the 20:00.
STABLE TRACKER UPDATE
No runners today so a recap on a disappointing week and a couple of new faces.
There were four runners this week, with only one getting warm.
Brightwalton (0, 10-11f) Rounded off a disappointing three runs with a shocker. Has gone the wrong way since a promising debut and is now released after a trio of runs.
Ultramarine (2nd, 11-4) Another solid run and will remain competitive. One more run to go.
Indian Creak (0, 16-1). Weak in the market and dropped right out. Another with one run left.
Wisper (0, 7-1) Only briefly flattered and stable may just have gone off the boil. One final chance for him as well.
Two horses are added AL ANOUD who has a slightly awkward head carriage but travelled up well at York but was a bit close to a solid pace and got beaten by two who came from further back. He looks capable of winning off 91.
The second is CHILLINGHAM who did far too much too soon in the Ebor. A race like the November handicap could suit.
Removed: Brightwalton
Added: Al Anoud, Chillingham
A full list of current tracker horses can be found here.
COLUMN PERFORMANCE 2024
Selections: 46/47.04, A/E 0.98
Stable Tracker: 23/25.09, A/E 0.89
Jockeys For Courses: 48/47.93, A/E 1.00
Total: 117/120.06, A/E 0.97
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