Chester, York & Haydock selections Saturday 31st May
It is one of those in between weekends with no standout fixture in the lead up to Derby week. As a result I am spreading my selections across the three afternoon fixtures in Britain where there are still a good choice of quality races. Amiloc was a winner for us at Goodwood last weekend (advised 13/8).
Haydock 1.13: Fox Journey
Some long awaited rain fell on Merseyside this week, but things have been drying up over the last 48 hours and that will benefit FOX JOURNEY far more than a lot of his rivals.
This horse has won first time out for Michael Stoute in both 2023 and 2024, on both occasions on decent ground at Newmarket. His form tailed off badly last season, albeit in high level events like Royal Ascot, but it could be that first time out is the time to catch him. Certainly he is now handicapped to win again having dropped to within a pound of that last winning mark.
A change of scenery to Kevin Ryan might be on benefit too, and he has been gelded over the winter so again that could bring about some further improvement. The drying ground will suit and there are quite a few hold up performers in this race, whereas Fox Journey is usually happy racing prominently, so he might just enjoy a tactical advantage in this race.
Chester 2.10: Never So Brave
Another former Michael Stoute inmate is strongly fancied for Chester’s feature contest in NEVER SO BRAVE.
He has made the switch to Andrew Balding since the retirement of the Newmarket handler and could be primed to strike first time out at a track where he enjoyed success at the big May meeting last season. On that occasion he eased round the tight turns, cruising to a 2l success over Witness Stand.
Following that he was a respectable sixth in the Jersey at the Royal meeting and met trouble in running when returning here for a handicap in July. He was unsuited by a drop to 6f and soft ground on his final start but 7f is his trip and he has a reasonable draw in six.
Haydock 2.23: Jasour
This listed sprint features several horses trying to make their name in this grade having come out of handicaps, but one horse already proven at this level and beyond is JASOUR and he might have the most potential to go on to better things.
He is another horse who produced his very best performance first time out last year when taking the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot. He then went on to finish a highly creditable third in the real thing at the Royal meeting the following month before increasingly struggling at Group 1 level in the second half of the season.
That trend of starting strongly and then fading was something that was also in evidence in his juvenile season, winning his maiden on his second start at Nottingham before winning a Group 2 at Newmarket’s July meeting. Therefore catching him early season might be the thing to do, especially as he has undergone a wind op since we last saw him.
York 2.40: JM Jungle & Bergerac
Course winning form on the Knavesmire could be important in this sprint and both my selections have tasked big race at York in the past.
JM JUNGLE won over 5 1/2f at the Ebor meeting last season and is building up a very consistent record in these big field sprints. He went on to finish third in the Portland at Doncaster and has started the new campaign in good style too.
He has twice finished second to the progressive American Affair. The first was on ground arguably softer than ideal at Musselburgh and he was always up in the van when returning here last time, just giving best in the closing stages. Conditions should be a little faster today which will suit and despite top weight, he has a class advantage and is a very strong traveller in his races.
BERGERAC has been easing down the handicap of late, but he showed up much better when beaten less than 3l into fifth at the last meeting here and a drop back from 6f to 5f might help.
5 ½f is probably his absolute optimum, the distance he won over at the 2022 Ebor meeting here, but his three wins since have all come at the minimum distance including the highly competitive Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle last summer. He has dropped below that last winning mark for the first time today and a middle draw could be useful to allow jockey Tom Eaves to cover all bases.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Fox Journey – 1.13 Haydock – 14/1 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt win – Never so Brave – 2.10 Chester – 3/1 general
1pt win – Jasour – 2.23 Haydock – 11/4 general
1pt each-way – JM Jungle – 2.40 York – 4/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Bergerac – 2.40 York – 10/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
