Haydock play host to the feature afternoon card including the feature £25,000 1m 6f handicap for three-year-olds. The racecourse executive and sponsors must be disappointed with the paucity of the field and only four will go to post including Alex My Boy (4.20) who lost all chance with a slow start at Royal Ascot last time before finishing to some effect over 12f suggesting today’s step up in trip will see him in a better light.
The maiden Altaayil is from an excellent stamina-laden family but he doesn’t look exactly thrown in off a mark of 87 for his handicap debut however regally bred he might be. As a son of Sea The Stars he will appreciate the forecast fast ground but the selection looks a typical Mark Johnston improver and he can take this en route to a step up in grade.
Ferryview Place (2.20) is 4lb higher than when landing a gamble at Nottingham last time but he is still 13lb lower than when successful in Ireland two years ago and the booking of Robert Winston for the Ian Williams-trained 5-y-old suggests connections expect a bold show in the opener.
Tom Dascombe saddled the winner of this event a couple of years ago with Brockwell and his All Reddy is worth more than a passing glance in the market but Ferryview Place could still be some be some way ahead of the handicapper
I have been surprised to see Life Partner (5.20) campaigned exclusively over shorter distances since breaking his maiden over a mile last July and he looked to be crying out for a step back up in trip at Newmarket last time when third in a decent 7f handicap. Paul Hanagan takes the mount for the first time and he can reward each way support in an excellent finale.
Newbury host a competitive evening card with some fascinating juvenile races including the valuable 5f event where Her Majesty’s Kinematic has the best form on offer but the filly disappointed at Sandown last time and is overlooked. The market will provide valuable clues but a chance is taken on Profitable (7.35) who cost 95,000 Guineas as a yearling for Clive Cox and is certainly bred to make a speedy juvenile.
Crystal Malt sets a fair standard in the fillies’ juvenile maiden over 6f; Bellajeu cost connections 300,000 Guineas as a yearling but might need further and a chance is taken on Brian Meehan’s newcomer Moon River (7.00) who also cost a small fortune (145,000 Guineas) as a yearling and is bred to be a precocious juvenile.
The 7f Fillies’ Handicap can go to Frangipanni (8.10) who improved for the step up in trip at Chepstow last time and is certainly bred to be a lot better than her current mark of 72. Richard Hughes takes the mount for the first time and she is a confident selection having shown promise on polytrack over 6f previously. This is a decent field for a good prize and looks sure to throw up a number of subsequent winners but the Roger Charlton filly must be followed into beaten on turf.
The finale is a terrific mile-and-a-half handicap for a field of largely unexposed three-year-olds including Luca Cumani’s recent course winner Second Step (9.10) who steps up in trip having won a maiden on only his second start here last month over 10f. The selection is entitled to come on for the run and is bred to be at least as effective on tonight’s fast ground and he must go close. Arabian Revolution won on debut and looked a relentless galloper on that occasion and this might be a most informative contest.
