The horse racing broadcaster picks out his selections from around the UK on Saturday, including one in the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock.
There’s always a sense of deja vu with the back-to-back Haydock weekends, which always seem quite similar cards. This weekend features quite a northern bias, as well, with Haydock, Chester and York providing the action on ITV.
The Listed Achilles Stakes commands the attention of the sprinters, and it will be no surprise if one of the fastest horses in training – DEMOCRACY DILEMMA 10/1 (14:23 Haydock) – gives a bold sight, especially as he is drawn high and could make his way over towards the stands rail. He looked in need of the race on his reappearance in the Palace House, where he also faced a lot of competition for the lead, which set it up for the closers. She’s Quality was another to be close to the speed that day and franked the form when a close-up second in the Temple at the track last week.
The rain that fell on Thursday will hopefully make conditions suitable for ESTRANGE 2/1 (14:58 Haydock) in the Lester Piggott Stakes. David O’Meara’s striking grey filly came quite a long way in a short space of time last season, not making her debut until running right away from a field of maidens at Goodwood in late August and ending up just two runs later being rated 100 after winning a Listed race at Doncaster. She shaped as if 12f would suit that day as she saw the race out really well and could make up into a useful filly this year.
Gelding seemed to get the career of ALYANAABI 3/1 (15:33 Haydock) back on track in a strong renewal of the Spring Trophy over course and distance earlier this month. He beat last year’s winner of this race, Tiber Flow, that day and is well drawn in stall 1 to either lead or track the pace. It is worth remembering he chased home City of Troy in the Dewhurst as a juvenile and, after a quiet season last campaign, he can make up for lost time now his mind is totally focused on racing.
Away from Haydock, MYAL 17/2 (14:10 Chester) is worth another chance after being close to a solid pace at Ascot last time when drawn on the wing. He has not had much luck with the barriers as he is again drawn wide and will have to be used early to get a position. Speed into stride is one of his strengths, however, and if he can get over he could be tricky to pass. If anything, the pace is actually outside rather than inside so it could be an interesting first couple of furlongs.
At York, JM JUNGLE 4/1 (14:40 York) bumped into an upwardly mobile sprinter in American Affair at the track last month and can give weight away all round here. The yard of John and Sean Quinn are 5/35 in May (A/E ratio 1.19) and he is an uncomplicated ride who can make or sit close to the pace.
Finally, HAZY COSMIC JANE 14/1 (EW 19:10 Lingfield), who I noticed got quite a solid hit out on her debut and expected a drop in grade into a Restricted. That hasn’t happened, but her experience could see her bag the favoured stands rail. With the debutants from bigger stables likely to take a big share of the market, she looks overpriced from an each-way perspective if all five stand their ground.
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- Source: https://blog.betway.com/horse-racing/richard-hoiles-6-picks-from-haydock-and-elsewhere-on-saturday/