Today’s horse racing preview has four selections which come from Haydock Park with a Nap on the cards. Two nice priced winners yesterday at 4/1 and 11/2 and it was good to see Ms Gillard finally win at the 16th attempt.
15.00 Haydock – Watch Racing UK In HD Handicap (0-90) (7.9f)
Michael Bells yard are having a good spell at present and their representative here is Fire Brigade. His run two runs back when beating Trading Punches has not really had a form boost with the runner up being significantly beaten at Sandown, but I am going to take that on board as the runner up was taking a large step up in trip.
The run in the Silver Bowl over 8.1f here at Haydock eighteen days ago would have to put him in with a very live claim of producing his third career success this afternoon under the eye-catching booking of William Buick. His present mark of 80 is there to be seriously exploited.
Intimate Art is another that is representing a yard that are gradually starting to hit a little form of late for Andrew Balding. Sadly, no Oisin Murphy this afternoon and David Probert reclaims the ride.
Being just denied on the all-weather in a 0-100 rated handicap speaks solid volumes, still looking for his first turf win, but not that exposed so will improve.
Fire Brigade : 2pt win @ 4/1 (BOG)
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15.30 Haydock – Lowtown Maiden Stakes (7.9f)
William Haggas’s entry here was pulled last weekend from a very good maiden, Addeybb is having his second run and I am hoping that he has found a weak enough race to justify his Newbury run last month, with the third Top Mission and the fifth Rigoletto both winning recently the form line and experience needs to be put to good use.
But he’s not going to have it all his own way, with Godolphin having a strong hand here and both at the top end of the market it’s going to go on pedigree for me here. Now even though I do like Addeybb who will progress, it’s the Godolphin entry Naaeebb that stands out in this.
The son of Lonhro who’s progeny’s over this trip first time out are excelling and through Dubai Millennium he looks the best of the two runners that should go close.
Dane O’Neil rode a winner yesterday for trainer Henry Spiller at Salisbury and you would have thought is number one over Josephine Gordon.
Mutaraaby is the son of Tamayuz, three runs under his belt which has seen him contend behind recent winner Zenon and a good second to Oasis Charm, even though he will win races, I just feel his very vulnerable to his stablemate this afternoon.
Naaeebb : 2pt win @ 13/8 (BOG)
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16.00 Haydock – Racing UK HD Handicap (0-85) (6.9f)
I was quiet taken in the manner that Merlin won for Michael Bell at Nottingham last month. The maiden was not that strong, but he looked above average in the way he drew clear inside the closing stages.
But I think their punching above their weight here putting him into a 0-85 on handicap debut considering the fourth and fifth have been easily beaten in 0-65 categories.
Andrew Balding’s Rely On Me has already run well in a 0-85 when just denied at Leicester two weeks ago. The third and fourth from that race were subsequent winners and I think he is the one to beat.
Best of the rest, Fahey’s versatile Vaulted will be thereabouts if coming on from his second at Musselburgh in a 0-70 affair, will have to improve but most do under this trainer.
Rely On Me : 3pt win (NAP) @ 5/2 (BOG)
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17.00 Haydock – Tyldeseley Maiden Stakes (11.6f)
Off the back of a good second to Charlie Appleby’s Janszoom at Lingfield last month and with the fourth Perfect in Pink coming out and franking that form, UAE King surely should be going one better this afternoon back at the same trip.
The fact that Roger Varian has not dropped the Frankel off spring back to 9f speaks volumes that he’s likely to get further than this. He has a Royal Ascot entry in the Queen Vase, so a solid run here is very much expected.
Likely favourite is to be Charlie Appleby’s Festival of Ages, very nicely bred and with no pressure as yet of future entries, is a learning curve.
UAE King : 2pt win @ 15/8 (NB) (BOG)
One to possibly note is Noble Manners today, looks exposed after just three runs, but Fran Norton on board who I rate highly, seems to know how to get horse back on track or to win (14.30 Haydock)
Also Mahler’s Star has run well enough to get the nod this afternoon in the 14.50 Worcester.
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