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13:25 Haydock
Last time out victor Songo is the clear market favourite but I wouldn’t be so sure that the Milton Harris trained runner is going to make it back to back wins. That victory came in a four runner field and at a lower grade and this contest looks a far greater ask, especially with the handicapper adding an additional 5lbs to his back. Not without a chance but I’m happy to take him on.
The proverbial all-weather bridesmaid who’s clinched a trio of consecutive seconds on the artificial surface is Carlos Felix. Clearly a consistent type but likely to found at least one too good once again.
Wots The Wifi Code is partnered by a more than capable claiming jockey in Jonny Peate and has done well in three starts so far. Looks the biggest threat to my selection.
Trainer David Loughnane sends out Screaming Petrus. The lightly raced four year old finished a credible 9th of 16 when last seen at Ascot and should appreciate a drop in class. With a run under his belt it’s likely his seasonal reappearance will have dusted off a few cobwebs and in what looks a weaker race than he tackled most recently he looks a solid each way shout.
SCREAMING PETRUS (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock 13:45 Goodwood A competitive seven furlong handicap from Goodwood is the second race on the ITV card today. Many of the field have already produced nice performances already this season, so it is set to be a nice race. Top weight Gisburn has the help of Sean Levey in the saddle however, he is one that is making his seasonal debut today and both of his wins have come on slower ground though Goodwood should suit him perfectly so although not dismissed if handling good ground, he’s passed over today. Evocative Spark was a very nice winner up at Beverley last month but has been raised a full 12lbs for great run. Beverley is a track that suits front runners very well and I don’t think that Goodwood will potentially be as ideal for him so I’m happy to take him on as well. My Dubai beat War In Heaven earlier in the year at Kempton and both rank as live each way chances with the latter running a good race up at Ascot since, though the former is even better off at the weights than he was for that victory. Alotaibi was a good second on his reappearance over course and distance and conditions here today look set for him to produce a big performance. He looks the best of the Gosden runners and with Andrea Atzeni on board, I am selecting him to go one better today. ALOTAIBI (WIN)
written by Tom Bates
14:00 Haydock
The powerhouse yard of Charlie Appleby continues to soar at dizzy heights and although the team will likely be focused on the big race over in Ireland today they could already have a winner on the board prior to the start of the Curragh showpiece. Godolphin’s four year old Bandinelli seems to have become a reborn animal since his gelding operation eleven months ago. He’s gone on to claim four victories out of five subsequent starts and is unbeaten over this marathon trip. With just a 3lb rise for his latest success he’s sure to go well and looks the one to beat in Haydock’s second race on the card.
Course and distance winner Goobinator deserves respect and should be fit after his jumps exploits.
For those looking for one at a bigger price former course victor Golden Flame can put his most recent poor performance behind him and should finish much closer for the in-form Johnston team.
BANDINELLI (WIN)
written by Rory Paddock
14:15 Goodwood
A tricky looking listed event over one mile two furlongs, and on softish ground.
Majestic Dawn is marginally the best treated in here. A horse who favours some cut in the ground, so it’s easy to see why he’s currently at the head of the market. He was beaten a long way in a Group 2 race at Chester on seasonal debut, and it wasn’t a strong Group 2 at all. He was certainly disappointing that day, and he’s overlooked.
Brentford Hope is decent, consistent type, who will enjoy the ground. One feels that everything needs to go his way if he’s going to win, and regular rider Jamie Spencer is onboard rival Ad Infinitum.
David Simcocks filly (ridden by Spencer) is certainly interesting. There could be plenty of improvement to come this season and she’ll go close at a price.
The selection is Movin Time. This four old has a wonderful pedigree and it’s interesting that connections are persevering with him. He looked like he’d come on from his seasonal debut at Newmarket, and with Andrea Atzeni on board, he’s taken to get his career back on track.
MOVIN TIME (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
14:35 Haydock
The standard setter here is Mighty Ulysses given his facile victory at Newmarket last week, however despite looking a talented individual he has to give upwards of 8lbs his rivals and this looks a competitive race with a few who look capable of progressing so in this instance I will be looking elsewhere in the hope of finding better value.
There was only half a length separating Spirit Catcher and Dirtyoldtown when they finished first and second at Musselburgh last month, however the former could only manage third at Newmarket next time out and the latter has so far put in his best work on slower ground so while respected they both could prove vulnerable for win purposes.
Outgate is a prior winner here at Haydock and won well at Chester earlier in the month, although has gone up 5lbs for that effort so I am opting for the unbeaten Whoputfiftyinyou who is another with prior course form and wasn’t stopping when winning well over seven furlongs at Newbury when last seen, suggesting that this step up to a mile will cause no issue. There are a couple of firms offering 4 places for each way selections in this race and with further progression likely he rates as a strong each way option at early double-figure odds.
WHOPUTFIFTYINYOU (E/W)
written by Dean Kilbryde
14:55 York
Alligator Alley has twice gone with promise since leaving Joseph O'Brien for David O'Meara and he showed plenty enough here last time to suggest his turn is nearing. Previously a winner at this course and appearing very well handicapped off ninety-four, it would be disappointing if he failed to play a big part and he looks a worthy favourite.
Jawwaal crawled out of the stalls here on his return though he most certainly caught the eye under an extremely sympathetic ride. Entitled to come on for that today, there is every chance he will go close for the yard who saddled last year's winner although he is high enough in the weights at present. Sir Titus also represents Michael Dods and whilst he will need significant improvement to land this, he is at least unexposed compared to quite a few of the others and respect is afforded.
Copper Knight rolled back the years and won three times last season, he loves it here and isn't impossibly treated though there are others who like to lead and he hasn't shown much of yet this season.
Night On Earth has held his form extremely well this calendar year and is another to consider, one could easily justify having an each way play on him although he has had a very busy time of it. Look Out Louis keeps on improving and he would be dangerous if allowed an easy lead whilst the likes of Sunday Sovereign, Showalong and Zargun warrant consideration, however, none make the same amount of appeal as Alligator Alley and he is taken to get his head back in front for a yard who do so well here.
ALLIGATOR ALLEY (WIN)
written by Chris Connolly
15:10 Haydock
A race to really get the pulse up is this year's Group Two Sandy Lane with some seriously quick animals in action. David Loughnane’s star performer Go Bears Go is my idea of the winner. Last year's Railway Stakes winner has proved himself to be a top prospect, capable of performing regardless of the going which may well be the deciding factor today, the ground will likely be soft today. He has already won on soft and also shown a level of form that his rivals are yet to achieve. El Cabello rates as the biggest danger who after finishing second on debut hasn’t looked back and has now won five in a row culminating in a win at the All-Weather Championships. He has also won on soft but that was over a year ago has been kept to artificial surfaces since, he has a few pounds to on official figures too. Flaming Rib won last time out at Chester but was likely targeted for that and the form probably is not quite good enough to take this.
GO BEARS GO (WIN)
written by Michael Taylor
15:20 Curragh
It’s hard to look past Native Trail who went down fighting behind stablemate Coroebus in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket just under three weeks ago. The Godolphin owned colt is by far the highest-rated runner in the line-up but the slower ground here is a concern.
Buckaroo may pose the biggest danger to the favourite, given he was only beaten a short-head by leading Epsom Derby hope Piz Badile on his return to action at Leopardstown. The lightly-raced son of Fastnet Rock should have no issues regarding trip or ground and holds a few of these through his victory in the Tetrarch Stakes when last seen including Wexford Native, New Energy and Malex.
The supplemented Ivy League is the sole Aidan O’Brien trained runner in the field. He probably gave too much rope to the front-running Pretreville in the Amethyst Stakes and there should be more to come from him. Hong Kong-bound Atomic Jones was a probable non-stayer in the Derby Trial at Leopardstown, with Ger Lyons stating he’d definitely improve for that seasonal reappearance. The drop back in trip should be ideal and he may sneak a place on his final start for connections.
ATOMIC JONES (E/W)
written by Peter Keogh
15:30 York
Mighty Blue wasn’t so far behind the classy Yaxeni last time out and her connections are in decent form. She’s rather highly rated and was fourth in this race last year, when she ran freely and was just caught out in the last furlong. She’s in with a shout but you just feel she needs to step up another gear to take the victory today.
Believe In Love would be the form selection for today, having finished a very narrow second to Loving Dream in the Prix de Royallieu on Arc weekend. She wasn’t at her best on her reappearence but is entitled to come on for that run. On her peak form, she probably deserves favouritism but she has to answer a few questions today and her sole run at York isn’t exactly inspiring.
Silence Please was unlucky on her seasonal debut, when she was badly hampered in the last furlong. She will have her headgear back on and the distance shouldn’t be a problem. She has some nice form as well, placing second behind multiple Group One winners Tarnawa and Search For A Song and Irish Oaks winner, Even So. She stands a decent chance today, especially coupled with her switch to Andrew Balding’s barn, who took this race last year.
SILENCE PLEASE (WIN)
written by Kieran McHugh
15:45 Haydock
This revolves around last year's Nunthorpe winner, Winter Power, and whether or not she is ready to roll first at the first time of asking. Clearly high class and best when able to dictate, she ought to take a good deal of beating although she has never raced here. Searching for legitimate reasons to take on the King Power owned filly are rather difficult to find though she is priced up accordingly and on that basis, she is taken on in favour of an each way alternative.
Moss Gill has been called plenty of names in his time and he clearly comes with risks attached for win purposes, often there or thereabouts he just doesn't appear all that interested in winning though he has plenty of form to be considered for the places and he was only beaten a length by Winter Power when the pair clashed at York last season. Beaten just a neck on his only ever visit here (Behind the re-opposing Kings Lynn) he can usually be relied upon to go well fresh and his trainer has been amongst the winners lately.
King's Lynn was slightly disappointing when finding Flaming Rib too strong at Chester last time, weak in the betting during the build-up that day, perhaps he just needed the run and he was rather free throughout. Entitled to strip fitter today and proven at the track, he has very strong form claims and he really ought to enjoy the likely strong pace.
Came From The Dark is much better than he showed at Newmarket on his return and he is readily forgiven for that effort. Proven at this course and still likely improving, he is hard to dismiss and further rain would seriously enhance his claims.
Twilight Calls was interfered with at Newmarket last time and is probably best forgiven for that, he had looked a fair type when comfortably winning the time before and though that form equates to high end handicap stuff, he is entitled to be still improving. Hailing from a yard firing and another likely to be suited by the strong pace, he could take another leap forward although rain would pose a significant question mark.
Last Crusader was impressive when winning at York and he is completely unexposed, one suspects he could develop into a genuine group performer although it is hard to see him being afforded such a soft lead here. The rest are difficult to fancy and so a chance will be taken on Moss Gill reaching the places at fair odds.
MOSS GILL (E/W)
written by Chris Connolly