_edited.png)
13:45 Haydock
Dragon Symbol hasn’t won since taking a conditions event at Hamilton around this time last year but in his defence, he was placed three times in Group 1 company, so lost little in defeat behind the likes of Starman and Campanelle. He was a disappointing beaten favourite on debut for Roger Varian in the Duke of York but will surely improve for that run and is seven pounds clear on ratings, so he looks difficult to oppose.
Robert Cowell’s Clarendon House may chase the favourite home. The lightly-raced son of Mehmas wasn’t disgraced in a Group 3 at Longchamp two weeks ago and looks like a sprinter on the upgrade. Last season’s Temple Stakes runner-up Ainsdale makes his stable debut for Julie Camacho and if tuned up he should be in the mix. However, a weather watch is advised as he needs a cut in the ground to show his best.
Of the remainder, Atalis Bay is a course and distance winner who’d appreciate any drying, Tabdeed is a decent yardstick but may be vulnerable to some of his younger rivals and Attagirl is an outsider of interest given she receive all the weight allowances.
DRAGON SYMBOL (WIN)
written by Peter Keogh
14:05 Beverley
The Hilary Needler is one of the highlights of Beverley’s season and they have been rewarded with a lovely field of talented fillies. Chief amongst them is the comfortable Lily Agnes winner Absolutelyflawless who was my selection for the race that day. She made it two from two in her career at Chester and I do fancy her again but this race will prove more of a challenge. Those challengers are headed by Parr Fire, who won her only start to date and for one of Nigel Tinkler's to win on debut usually means they are above average. She slightly dwelt at the start before running on well to win by ¾L, I’d expect her to improve on that and give the selection a race. Star Of Lady M went off odds-on favourite for the Lily Agnes but didn’t give her true running and this course may suit more than Chester.
ABSOLUTELYFLAWLESS (WIN) written by Michael Taylor 14:20 Haydock
Mahrajaan, Contact and Forza Orta occupy the top three positions in the early markets and in truth they all look capable of winning a race of this nature. Mahrajaan is unbeaten over this trip and hails from the all-conquering William Haggas stable but has his first run of the season, Contact was a ready winner over this trip last time out but has gone up 5lbs for his efforts and Forza Orta put up a solid display when beaten a length while racing under a 5lbs penalty at York earlier in the month. They look difficult to split so preference is to look for an each way play and as such our selection is Kelly’s Dino who returns from an almost two year absence but is a prior course and distance winner who has made the frame in seven from nine over the trip and arrives here 5lbs lower than his last winning mark. This looks a competitive race to make your comeback and it could well be that he will need the run after such a long absence, however at the price and considering most bookies are offering four places I am happy to take a chance that he will be fit and ready to put up a bold show.
KELLY’S DINO (E/W) written by Dean Kilbryde 14:40 Beverley The second of three races from Beverley live on ITV this Saturday sees us presented with a nine runner race that looks mightily tricky to decipher.
The current market leader Percy's Lad aims to make it three wins on the spin. Of course he has a solid chance however he's never won over a distance shorter than a mile, he's never won in this grade and is now 6lbs above his highest winning mark. Those three factors alone makes this a tough test and I'd rather look elsewhere.
Course and distance winner Ugo Gregory has decent form in the book but has produced some woeful performances this term. His record here at Beverley has produced a 50% strike rate with three wins from six starts so looks likely to be on better terms now at his favourite track but as with the favourite hasn't done well at this level. I'm going to side with the Irish import Blue For You who makes his debut for trainer David O'Meara. He needs to overcome a 250 plus day absence but if he's fit he could do far better than his current odds may suggest. He's lightly raced so has further room for improvement and if a change of scenery has done him good looks a worthwhile each way punt. BLUE FOR YOU (E/W)
written by Rory Paddock 14:55 Haydock
Sea La Rosa goes here as the current market favourite though she hasn't been seen for 200 plus days and she may need the run which would slightly put me off backing her. William Haggas yard are in good form though at a near 40 percent strike rate. So dangerous to dismiss who signed off last season with a listed race win on the all-weather at Lingfield.
Nell Quickly comes here with an each way chance but this is a step up in grade to what she has faced previously. Hollie Doyle on board bound to prove popular with punters.
Climate represents the Irish for Jessica Harrington. Is Another who I'm sure hasn't come to Haydock for a jolly though I don't think her profile / form is nothing that sticks out too much bar her Newmarket 4th on season reappearance in the Dahlia Stakes
Noon Star will be looking to bounce back from her disappointing run at York a couple of weeks back. But I quite like the look of Lady Hayes for this race. Lady Hayes is fairly consistent mares who is the only horse in this race to have won at this course and ran well at the track again a previous time. So, you know she will handle the course.
Lady Hayes was 2nd on her seasonal reappearance at a listed race at Goodwood just beaten by a neck. Youd like to think she will improve for that run and this puts her I think in contention. At around the 6/1 price I think she is worth A each way play
LADY HAYES (E/W) written by Luke Tucker 15:15 Beverley
A rather competitive two year-old conditions stakes which has thrown up a few nice types in recent years. Andrew Balding’s sole runner is Chateau, who comes here off the back of an unlucky third on his debut. He’s entitled to improve again and William Buick is an interesting booking. The only real concern would be that his breeding and relations suggest that he may well find this fast five furlongs a tad too fast.
Whistle And Flute is a serious contender for Eve Johnson Houghton and Charlie Bishop. He followed the route of connection’s star precocious two year-old, Chipotle, when targeting the five furlongs conditions stakes at Ascot in April. He was turned over by Bakeel in that race but he was carrying a penalty. He sets the standard but he might well prefer it softer.
Rogue Spirit won on his debut over course and distance, with a time that would have been deemed fast enough to win this race. He’s been gelded since and has every chance of improving further. He’s by Dark Angel, who is probably the leading sire of springers with Battaash, Harry Angel and Mecca’s Angel, to name a few. He has a lot going for him and could break Tom Clover’s slight dry spell.
ROGUE SPIRIT (WIN) written Kieran McHugh 15:30 Haydock
This looks a competitive affair on paper with Kinross ticking a lot of boxes for this Group 3 contest. He is a course and distance winner, is the highest rated horse in the contest and represents a yard in form. He hasn’t run for quite a while however and he may just need the run here so I’m passing him over today.
The ever consistent Spycatcher also lines up here having had a pleasing time of things on the all weather. His latest run on turf was no poor run either but there is a suspicion that he is better over six furlongs so he may not be the answer today.
The answer to the puzzle may be Happy Power. Andrew Balding’s yard is flying and he may follow up his very impressive listed success at Leicester, he is well drawn to attack here and this contest may spring him on to bigger and better things for the season to come.
HAPPY POWER (WIN)
written by Tom Bates 15:45 Chester
Boardman is hard to overlook here and he landed this very contest twelve months ago. Impressive enough when winning at Thirsk last time, he looks to have an ideal draw in stall two and a very big run looks on the cards although these types of marks have proven beyond him in the past.
Oh This Is Us completely failed to fire when last of seven at Newbury the last day, quite why or what was to blame for that effort is anyone's guess but he is very closely matched with Boardman on the pairs Haydock running and in theory, he really ought to turn the tables if back on song given the swing in the weights. Previously a winner over the course and distance and well housed in stall three, one would struggle to discount a return to form and he has won off much higher marks in the past.
Fools Rush in probably had the run of the race when fourth on his comeback here, from five course visits that was the only time he had failed to finish in the top three and Hugo Palmer's charge is entitled to strip fitter this time. Possible negatives for Stevie Donohoe's mount include the likelihood of him being taken on for the lead and he is two pounds above his last winning mark, for all that, he clearly warrants respect at his favourite venue.
Tomfre would have his followers bald by this point though he is very well handicapped, heavy rain would greatly enhance his chances here but a leap of faith is required. Spirit Of Light has some handy form from the United Arab Emirates and is respected on that alone, he looks the potential dark horse of the race although he showed very little at Ascot last time. The rest have plenty on to upset the market leaders and so a chance will be taken on Oh This Is Us reaching the places at fair prices.
OH THIS IS US (E/W) written by Chris Connolly