Newbury is the pick of today's action with last year's subsequent Champagne Stakes winner Estidhkaar winning the opener on the corresponding card last year and trainer Richard Hannon likely to follow-up with Papa Luigi (2.20) under Ryan Moore. The Zoffany colt cost connections Middleham Park Racing €85,000 at the sales and shaped well when second last month on debut at Nottingham. The colt is entitled to progress further and can use the benefit of experience to continue his handler's fine record in the race, bidding to win a third renewal in the past four years.
The feature sees thirteen fillies go to post for the Listed Ballymacoll Stud Stakes and a wide open contest with just one runner yet to taste black-type success. Andrew Balding's Victoria Pollard and Paul Cole's Jasmine Blue both won smart maidens over course and distance in April however Encore L'Amour (3.25) gets the nod to return to winning ways under Ryan Moore. David Simcock's well-bred filly chased home subsequent Oaks 3rd Lady of Dubai in the Height of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood and can get the better of Henry Candy's Alonsoa, who is burdened with a 3lb penalty for her Listed race success at the track last term.
Haydock's two-day meeting comes to a climax with eight runners going to post for the feature 3-y-o Handicap over seven furlongs and Roger Charlton's unbeaten McCreery (8.50) a confident selection to make a winning reappearance under George Baker. The selection made a successful debut when springing something of a surprise in soft ground at Newbury in September, winning despite showing signs of greenness in the closing stages. The form of that race has worked out well with the second, third and fourth all winning on their next respective starts and the well-bred colt will take some beating if fully tuned-up on his first start for almost nine months.
John Gosden's Hayadh is a fascinating runner in the 7f Maiden on the card after cost 550,000 guineas at the sales last October and has a host of fancies entries to his name. The Dam was a winning sister to Cape Cross, sire of last week's Derby winner Golden Horn, however will surely want further than today's trip and preference lay with Richard Hannon's George William (8.20) after a promising debut last month at Goodwood. Richard Hughes takes over from Pat Dobbs in the plate after an excellent fourth last month, running on in the closing stages, and is entitled to build on that and get his head in front at the second time of asking.
The Tom Dascombe yard tasted success on the corresponding card last term and Newera (7.20) can continue the yard's excellent record at the track under regular partner Richard Kingscote. The selection was well-backed when making a winning handicap debut last month at Redcar and despite a 5lb rise at the weights still appears well-treated to follow-up accordingly in first-time cheek-pieces.
There's summer jumping from Worcester and Uttoxeter with Alan King's Gone Too Far (6.40) fancied to score at the latter in the feature Novices' Handicap Chase. The selection has been progressive over both hurdles and fences, however has lacked fluency over the larger obstacles since reverting to chasing last November but remains open to further improvement. The drying ground should suit and with the handicapper dropping him a further 4lb he can hopefully return to winning ways under stable jockey Wayne Hutchinson.
Sail and Return (7.40) scored when flagged up in the column last week and should go-in again under a 7lb penalty in the 3m Handicap Chase. Phil Middleton's evergreen 11-y-o won Southwell's handicap chase over two and a half miles for the second year on the spin, winning by a comfortable four and a half lengths, and is a confident selection to follow-up stepped up in trip under a 7lb penalty.
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