Haydock & Ascot selections Saturday 6th September
Another of the big Group 1 sprints takes place today at Haydock with arguably the leading candidate for European sprinter of the year in the field. The favourite looks likely to take some beating with plenty in his favour. On a strong Haydock card I have selections for three races, plus two suggestions for the Heritage handicap at Ascot. Allonsy was a winner for us at Chester last weekend (advised 6/1) whilst Hawksbill (SP 9/2) and Castle Cove (7/2) were placed for the each-way bets.
Haydock 2.25: Fantasy World
A steady improver all season, FANTASY WORLD is the suggestion for an open looking staying handicap for the 3yos.
He looked nothing out of the ordinary in his three novice races to qualify for a handicap mark, but did win a weak maiden at Ffos Las in June, seeing out the 10f trip strongly. From there it has been onwards and upwards as he improved again for a step up to 12f to win on the opening night of the Racing League series at Yarmouth.
That persuaded connections to have a go at the Melrose at York where he finished fifth, and again seemingly improving for a further increase in distance to 14f. A few things went wrong including a slow start, and then getting outpaced when the pace increased 3f out, but stamina looked strong and if he can take a slightly more prominent part in proceedings throughout, he must rate a big contender. His dam Donau has already produced some real stayers and this looks another but with a real touch of quality.
Ascot 2.40: Native Warrior and Leadman
I am going back to the tried and trusted method of looking for strong closers in a big field handicap at Ascot here.
NATIVE WARRIOR actually made the running in the Lincoln at the start of the season, but faded under pressure and a drop back to 7f and hold up tactics seem to have been the making of him recently.
He came from well back to win over Newcastle’s 7f in a decent handicap in June and backed that up with a strong finishing third at Goodwood next time. OF course those hold up tactics are very difficult to pull off at the track and he met all kinds of trouble in the race before coming through fast and late. On this straight track and with the master of hold up rides Jamie Spencer on board, he rates a worthy favourite.
LEADMAN needs things to fall right, but they did so when he won at the big Newmarket July meeting and almost did so again when just touched off in a valuable prize at Newbury, where hold up horses don’t normally do so well. He ran respectably on his last start when in mid-division at York, but again that track is difficult to make up ground at, plus the mile distance might have stretched his stamina somewhat.
A truly run 7f should be what he gets today and he is drawn right against the near rail which is often an advantage at Ascot. The drying ground today will be in his favour and given luck in running he should be flying through late.
Haydock 3.00: Dancing in Paris
After so many narrow defeats in top handicaps this season, the Old Borough Cup offers DANCING IN PARIS to finally earn the success his form surely deserves.
He was only beaten a half-length by the Group race performer French Master at Goodwood earlier in the season and then was second at the Glorious meeting there last month. In between times he almost gave us a win in the Northumberland Plate when we tipped him up for Newcastle’s big race, just getting outstayed over 2m. He also ran a highly creditable race at the Ebor meeting last time when fourth, again over 2m. However I feel he is quite a keen going horse who does not quite allow himself to stay that far.
14f feels like his optimum and he ran a cracker to be third in this race last season on similar good going that he enjoys. An inside draw will be an advantage, giving him a shorter line in to the opening bend and giving Saffie Osborne the chance to give him plenty of cover early and enable him to settle. Whilst he is edging up the handicap, he still looks fairly weighted, especially when everything seems in his favour today.
Haydock 3.35: Lazzat & Sky Majesty
The best form coming into this race is surely LAZZAT’s dominant from the front victory in the Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, a track where front-running is usually pretty tricky. Whilst similar tactics narrowly failed to work in a Group 1 at Deauville recently, I think they can work to maximum effect again here, especially as a tailwind is likely to be operating down the track today.
Drying ground will definitely be in his favour as he bounced off the ground at Ascot, and he is not likely to be over troubled for a battle for the early lead.
The fact he is drawn centrally could be a bonus for SKY MAJESTY who is drawn just two away from the favourite and as a result should get a nice tow into the contest. This filly came alive in the autumn last season, winning a fast ground Group 3 at Ayr before easing to a Group 2 success on heavy ground at the back-end.
This season seems to be following a similar trend as she showed no more than fair form in her two starts during the first half of the season. However two trips to Naas since have yielded two wins and she stormed up the hill to success in a Group 3 last time. Of course more will be needed today, but she is a versatile filly with a strong cruising speed and that central draw could be of great use as she seems to be where the early pace is likely to be.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Fantasy World – 2.25 Haydock – 8/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Native Warrior – 2.40 Ascot – 4/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Leadman – 2.40 Ascot – 7/1 BetVictor, Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Dancing in Paris – 3.0 Haydock – 8/1 Paddy Power (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt win – Lazzat – 3.35 Haydock – 13/8 general
1pt each-way – Sky Majesty – 3.35 Haydock – 8/1 Betway (1/5 odds 1st 4)
