Haydock, Goodwood & York selections Saturday 23rd May
It is one of those Saturdays where the big races are spread all over the place and therefore I am looking at three flat meetings in the UK where there are a host of competitive handicaps to get stuck into. Sahara King was placed for the each-way bet at Newbury last week (advised 5/1).
Haydock 2.20: Princling & Jamestown
Although he won as he liked on his comeback run at Wetherby last month, that victory was certainly not the reason for highlighting PRINCLING for this big 3yo handicap. That was a very weak race that took little winning. Instead it was his two runs at the back end of last season as a juvenile that pinpoints him as the one to beat here.
Despite running very green, he was just touched off by a nose on debut at Kempton, beaten by a 90 rated Godolphin horse. He then kept on well for second on turf debut at Newmarket, winning his group on the near side with ease, but was no match for the now 104 rated Yazin. William Haggas will always leave plenty to work on, but an opening mark of 87 looks too good to refuse here.
As a value alternative JAMESTOWN might be a maiden, but he has run a couple of cracking races already and his odds are probably only as big as they are due to a wide draw. Three non-runners will help, but this horse is happy being held up and should get a clear run from that berth.
He looked green when narrowly beaten by Bobby Mcgee in a Gowran maiden, but was far more professional when just failing to catch the same individual on handicap debut at Naas last time. A strong gallop would be a help here, and there usually is one in a race as hot as this, for this gelding is bred to stay further than this mile.
York 2.40: Sports Coach & Reigning Profit
Another typical cavalry charge with a near maximum field down the York straight and it is two near the bottom of the handicap who appeal.
I thought SPORTS COACH was a real eyecatcher here last week when sixth over this 5f having been given plenty of cover early on. That was not his first good run here as he was a decent fifth on his first start for three months last summer. He looks the type to really appreciate a fast end-to-end gallop over the minimum distance.
He is possibly not ideally drawn in 15 given the usual propensity for sprint winners to go far these days at York, but there does seem to be enough pace drawn high to give him a decent tow into the race.
REIGNING PROFIT is difficult to win with, but he is a strong traveller and almost won one of the big 5f handicap prizes at Ascot last summer in a similar big field. This time of year is usually when Ruth Carr’s string are at their peak and this 7yo looks be running into top form on the basis of his excellent second at Hamilton last weekend.
He can race off the same mark of 76 today, his lowest rating since winning back to back races last spring at Pontefract and Ripon. He does have the potential advantage of a single figure draw and Warren Fentiman’s claim means the gelding gets even more weight from every other horse in the race.
Haydock 4.05: Hermetic
Trainer Ian Williams has done really well with a number of French imports over the years and he might well have found another gem in HERMETIC.
He is already a 2m winner as a 3yo in France on their version of soft ground, so stamina looks fairly assured, given he led all the way that day, despite pressure from other horses. However his UK debut at York last week was full of promise and as long as this race does not come too soon, it is easy to see him building on that.
In a very competitive 12f handicap, he raced prominently throughout and though many of the other front-runners dropped away, he kept galloping right to the line, simply lacking the pace over that trip of the fancied winner Master Builder. He steps up 4f in distance today and there are plenty in opposition who don’t look proven in terms of recent form.
Goodwood 4.20: Align the Stars
There is a very good staying handicap hidden away at the backend of Goodwood’s card and a hot day will ensure the track dries out enough to turn this race in the favour of ALIGN THE STARS.
This gelding was an impressive winner over course and distance on very fast ground at the 2024 Glorious meeting and whilst his form has been very up and down since, this track clearly suits and the horse is very comfortable making his own running, something that should be easier to do with a slimmed down field.
He somewhat lost his way in 2025, despite a couple of decent efforts in similar grade, but after a winter off he looked rejuvenated when winning the Queens Prize at Kempton in March. He showed that win to be no fluke when chasing home our selection Goblet of Fire in a good handicap at Newmarket last time. Whilst he is creeping up the ratings again, at 98 he is still 1lb lower than when scoring at the big meeting here in 2024, so whilst he is in great form, he looks the one to beat today.
Recommended bets:
1pt win – Princling – 2.20 Haydock – 100/30 general
1pt each-way – Jamestown – 2.20 Haydock – 18/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 4)
1pt each-way – Sports Coach – 2.40 York –16/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 5)
0.5pts each-way – Reigning Profit – 2.40 York – 9/1 Paddy Power (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 6)
1pt win – Hermetic – 4.05 Haydock – 7/2 Betfred
1pt win – Align the Stars – 4.20 Goodwood – 7/2 Bet365, Paddy Power
