APOLLO ONE bombed out on me when he last featured in this column but he has won twice since including most recently on his return. Regular rider Martin Harley was full of praise for him that day and even suggested this drop back to 6f will bring about even more improvement. He showed plenty of pace but was only hanging on at the end so the drop in trip does make sense. I do believe he is well above average and his form suggests he is too which is why I can’t believe I can still back him at 4/1. Peter Charalambous hasn’t had too many good ones but he is more than capable when he gets his hands on one which he has already proven to a certain extent with this lad. On ratings this is between the selection and Mighty Gurkha and I think that is how it will play out but I just think Apollo One from a handy draw is going to be very hard to pass.
Lingfield 3.45 – Apollo One
Saturday
I’m hoping the better ground will bring about some improvement in the performance of GAZETTE BOURGEOISE in the 1.00 at Haydock today. Alex Hales young mare has hinted at ability this season but hasn’t really put two runs together and I’d be inclined to blame the ground. Her poorest runs have come on heavy ground and her better runs have come on soft so I’m thinking the better the ground the better she performs. She has some smart novice form in the book and the handicap hurdle she ran in at Market Rasen is working out ‘ok’. I think she will run a big race here.
Alan King likes to have runners at this meeting and it would come as no surprise if he has laid OUTONPATROL out for her assignment tomorrow afternoon. Her return at Newbury was full of promise as she travelled beautifully until she tired badly after the second last into 7th place. She is very lightly raced for her age and a mark of 120 doesn’t look to be out of the realms of possibility. I expect her to be fully tuned up for this and I hope she will go close.
Haydock 1.00 – Gazette Bourgeoise
Haydock 3.15 – Outonpatrol
