The ground was described as good – good to firm in places –
at Haydock at noon on Sunday ahead of today’s nine race card.
In the 7f Novice event Andrew Balding’s Rival has the best
form on offer having finished runner up over today’s C&D on debut on soft ground
last month. The winner – William Bligh – was well backed but only finished
third in a Goodwood handicap last week and the third and fourth horses have
hardly franked the form.
I think this can go to one of the newcomers and, despite a
poor draw in stall nine, I am interested to see what the market says about the
prospects of Broomy Law (2.45) who cost connections 200,000 gns as a yearling
and is out of a Lowther winner. Kevin Ryan has had 10 juvenile winners this
term and the ground should be perfect for this son of Gleneagles.
The form of Bolly Bullet’s (4.15) second at Yarmouth on his
British debut behind Alibaba – who runs at Windsor this evening – was given a
boost when the winner followed up at Windsor from a 5lbs higher mark. George
Scott’s three-year-old has been raised a couple of pounds for that effort but
he is fitted with cheek-pieces for the first time this afternoon and Ben Curtis
is a positive jockey booking.
The filly Queen’s Course has her first start for David
O’Meara having left the stable of William Haggas since her last start on
handicap debut. A market move would be worth noting.
The first four in the betting in the mile-and-a-half
handicap all won last time out including Dreamweaver (5.15) who is 6lbs higher
for scoring over today’s C&D on similar ground to today’s back in June. Ed
Walker looks to have a real St Leger candidate on his hands, courtesy of
English King although his staying on fourth in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood
last week suggested he was not unlucky in the Derby. I really am looking
forward to seeing the Epsom winner Serpentine back on track although plans for
Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old appear fluid.
William Haggas has a couple of good opportunities at
Yarmouth including Pretty Pickle (5.00) who has been a beaten favourite on both
her career starts but shaped with considerable promise when runner up on her
seasonal reappearance back in June. Note that was at a time when the Haggas’
string were improving for the run and I believe she can make it third time lucky
in the mile maiden. The selection was fitted with a hood here last time, but
the headgear is dispensed with this afternoon which suggests she has been more
amenable to restraint at home of late.
In the finale at Windsor I though Flashing Approach (8.15)
looked to be crying out for a step up in trip when staying on into fourth on
his handicap debut over 10f at Chepstow last time. Silvestre De Sousa takes
over on Mark Johnston’s 3-year-old whose breeding does not scream this trip
even though he is by a Derby winner in New Approach.
