Haydock & Kempton selections Saturday 5th September
A much wetter week has transformed the going at Haydock to heavy so on one of the big days of the year at the Merseyside track I am looking at mudlovers for the three big races. I also have a selection for the London Mile final at Kempton. Our quest for each-way value on soft ground last week went ok with Fondo Blanco second (advised 25/1) and Stem placed as well (advised 7/1).
Kempton 2.20: Warrior Mode
In a typically open looking London Mile final, the suggestion is WARRIOR MODE who qualified for this race by winning one of the final qualifiers last month and looks a faster and stronger horse since a belated start to his 2026 campaign.
Having been gelded and had a wind operation since last season, he produced a very promising comeback when third over 7f at Newmarket in July, despite getting outpaced 2f out. Stepped up to a mile here next time, he produced a strong finishing burst from the rear of the field and justified strong market support in the process.
Hold up tactics don’t always work around here, but he narrowly failed to make all the running at Newcastle last season so can be ridden handier if required. However with plenty of early pace likely here, then that should help the selection whatever the tactics applied.
Haydock 2.30: Lopeo
There is no doubt that LOPEO is at his best on soft ground, as is the case with so many of David Menuisier’s string and a return to testing conditions can bring out the best in the gelding today.
A heavy ground winner of a novice at Goodwood at this time last year, he might have finished last of five to today’s rival Galilean Quality at Pontefract next time, but was only beaten 5l and is a whopping 18lbs better off today.
This season started well with a couple of second places at Doncaster, including over this 14f distance, albeit on fast ground. However he looked all at sea on a similar surface when last running at the Newmarket July meeting and he has clearly been saved for an autumn campaign since once the weather turned. The only concern is that the trainer has gone nearly two months without a win, but he has plenty of near misses in that run.
Haydock 3.05: Ashnak
We have a short priced favourite in Aegean Prince for this handicap, but given the horse has not run this year, and is taking part in his first handicap, I am looking elsewhere and ASHNAK looks solid each-way value.
He spent his first two season racing in his native France where he boasted a heavy ground success at Chantilly amongst his profile, so today’s ground should be no issue. It has been a season of steady improvement since joining David O’Meara as the wily handler gets to know his new charge.
He was a solid third at Ripon behind Prydwen in April and then ran a cracker for fourth at the York Dante fixture. He got a rare chance to race on soft at Ayr in June where he produced a strong performance to place second to Square Necker. I think we can forgive him his last run at York on rattling fast ground, which was officially given as an excuse. It is interesting that Danny Tudhope prefers Ashnak to the well handicapped Stressfree from the same yard.
Haydock 3.40: Almeraq
Although he has not had a chance to race on soft ground for a while, the imposing ALMERAQ has already displayed plenty of prowess on a testing surface and can demonstrate that by landing a second Group 1 of the season in an arguably below par Sprint Cup.
He needed every yard of the 6f to win a star studded Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting, but had to contend with very fast ground that day and with stamina coming more into play on a softer surface today, he should be able to keep up more easily in the first half of the race.
The combination of fast ground and a largely downland track cost him in the July Cup at Newmarket last time, but on the only occasion he encountered slower ground in 2025 he hacked up by 5l in a competitive handicap at Ayr. He also ran well on his first two runs of his career as a juvenile on genuine soft ground including a comfortable win at Yarmouth. He is the highest rated horse in the race, so with the going no issue he can confirm those ratings today.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Warrior Mode – 2.20 Kempton – 5/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Lopeo – 2.30 Haydock – 8/1 general
1pt each-way – Ashnak – 3.05 Haydock – 11/1 general
1pt win – Almeraq – 3.40 Haydock – 100/30 general
