2023 Sandown and Haydock Saturday Preview – DS
2023 Sandown and Haydock Saturday Tips
This weekend the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown is the feature race. Just four run in that but there’s plenty of competitive racing for us to get stuck into. Our only bet this week so far has been for the July Cup, get our ante-post tip here. Our 2023 Sandown and Haydock Saturday tips are below.
1.50 Sandown – Coral Charge (Group 3)
Annaf, who we backed at 80s in the King’s Stand, is the 11/2 fav for this Group 3 sprint. A furiously run race on this stiff 5f should suit him, the worry is that he is drawn widest in stall 11. Existent is drawn a little bit better in stall 8 and at 20/1, he is capable of producing a big run.
Trained by Stuart Williams, this 5yo son of Kingman ran in this race last season. Like Annaf, he is a hold up performer and last year he didn’t enjoy the smoothest of races. After breaking well Marco Ghiani took a pull and as horses went by, Existent was lit up and he started pulling hard. Ghiani then had to switch widest of all to make his challenge so to be beat just over a length for the win was an excellent effort.
This horse has run very respectably the last twice in G1 and G2 company. At Haydock in the Temple Stakes he actually beat Annaf by over 3l and Raasel by 6L, both a lot shorter in the betting here. Given his run style, Existent will need luck but Jason Hart (13/73 + 21 top 4s for Williams) looks a good booking and odds of 20/1 are large enough to justify an e/w interest.
2023 Sandown and Haydock Saturday Tip: Existent e/w @ 20/1 (4 places)
2.05 Haydock – bet365 Handicap (Class 2)
The interesting one at decent odds in this 14f, 3yo handicap is Cinnodin. Richard Hughes has been in great form and while this son of Anodin runs from 4lbs out of the weights, he is one of just four previous 14f winners in this race. Described as an out and out stayer by his trainer after his last win at Sandown (14f gd/sft), he was unlucky not to add a third win at the trip back there last time out.
Held up on that occasion by Finley Marsh, Cinnodin got mullered and badly carried to the right just as he was switching to the outer to mount his challenge. The lost momentum proved costly but he did stay on stoutly for third, just 1.5l behind the winner Lionella and a nose behind the runner up Lady Rascal.
That filly came out and won a handicap off 3lbs higher on her next start. Clearly, this is a far tougher race than the ones he’s been running in but he is out of a well related dam and he looks like a horse that could still have plenty more improvement to come. The cheekpieces are an interesting addition and hopefully, this lad will be staying on when others have cried enough. At odds of 25/1, Cinnodin is the each way selection.
2023 Sandown and Haydock Saturday Tip: Cinnodin e/w @ 25/1 (4 places)
2.25 Sandown – Coral Challenge Handicap (Class 2)
Fifteen runners in this ultra-competitive handicap and a case can be made for plenty. Maysong has been a money spinner for us this season but I’d have been more interested if Shariq Mohd was riding him again. He does like this C&D though and if his inexperienced jockey can get him into a decent early position from stall 8 a big run wouldn’t come as a huge surprise.
However, on this occasion I am going to look elsewhere. Escobar is interesting given how well he usually runs at this track but he might just need a bit more help from the handicapper. One that looks potentially overpriced at odds of 33/1 is Baltimore Boy for Michael Bell and Trevor Whelan.
Newcastle Novice Winner
This 4yo son of Starspangledbanner has just one win so far, a 7f Novice last year at Newcastle. His first four runs came on the all weather but he showed turf posed no problems with a good 2nd behind Raising Sand on his first run on grass at Ascot last September. He was sent off on his winter break after that run and he has had three starts so far this season.
His return was poor at Doncaster but that was probably badly needed. Next time at Ascot (8f gd) it was much more like it, a 2.25L defeat behind Chasing Aphrodite off 90. At Sandown last time he finished behind a few of these, again off 90.
He was just over 5l behind Maysong conceding 18lbs, he is 6lbs better off with him now. He’s also 4lbs better off with the runner up Dutch Decoy. It was a messy race for Baltimore Boy and he was also eased close to home so he could arguably have finished a length or two closer. I don’t think he has a huge amount to find to be competitive here so at 33/1, Baltimore Boy is the e/w selection.
2023 Sandown and Haydock Saturday Tip: Baltimore Boy e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)
2.40 Haydock – Lancashire Oaks (Group 2)
A tricky looking Group 2. The bookies make Mimikyu the 13/8 fav and I’m not sure she should be that short. Her best recent form is at 14f and she bombed out on her most recent start at this trip. Sea Silk Road won a G3 over C&D last time and she could be a shade big at 9/2.
Aristia is a horse regular readers of the blog will be familiar with. She placed for us twice last season at big odds but the cat is out of the bag now. She ran poorly on her return but she is still just 11/2, too short for the blog. Of those at bigger odds, Poptronic is one that could go well but with no extra places on offer, I’ll sit this one out. No bet.
2023 Sandown and Haydock Saturday Tip: No Bet
3.00 Sandown – Coral Distaff (Listed)
On ratings, this looks between Stenton Glider (103) and Magical Sunset (102). They are priced up at 3/1 and 9/2 respectively and if they run to their best, they have obvious claims. One at much bigger odds who might sneak a bit more black type is Lady Alara.
Trained by Charlie Hills, this daughter of Invincible Spirit has just one win to her name. That came on debut at Newbury (7f gd) in a fillies’ Novice. On her next outing she ran into third in a Listed race here over 7f (gd/fm), beat 6l after blowing the start. She found G3 company too hot the last twice but I thought she shaped really well on her first try at a mile in the Sandringham at Ascot last month.
Yes, she only finished tenth but she was drawn three and eight of the first ten home were drawn high. She was 2nd of 11 of those drawn low and just a length behind Magical Sunset. Now, she is much worse off at the weights with that filly but she was denied a clear run at Ascot and if things went better, she could have beaten her.
Lady Alara may well be a hostage to fortune this afternoon from stall 1 if she misses the break but even so, I saw enough promise in her last run to warrant a small e/w bet at 28/1.
2023 Sandown and Haydock Saturday Tip: Lady Alara e/w @ 28/1 (4 places) NB
3.15 Haydock – Old Newton Cup Handicap (Class 2)
At odds of 20/1 Alright Sunshine is a confident e/w selection for this valuable 12f handicap. Trained by Keith Dalgleish, he’ll be the trainer’s last runner before he steps away from the sport. No doubt he’ll want to go out on a high and it looks like this 8yo has been aimed at this race.
He gets in off 100 today, just 1lb higher than he was when last winning at Ripon a year ago (12f gd). A respectable run off 101 followed in the November Handicap on unsuitable ground and he signed off for the season with a quiet run at Newcastle.
Alright Sunshine returned to action this season at Royal Ascot (14f gd). He finished last but he ought to come on bundles for the run. The reason I think he’s been targeted at this race is his course form. He has form figures of 2233 at Haydock, the two seconds coming in the Old Borough Cup. This will be his first try over his optimum distance at the track and Billy Garrity, on board for his last two wins, rides. At odds of 20/1, Alright Sunshine is the e/w NAP.
2023 Sandown and Haydock Saturday Tip: Alright Sunshine e/w @ 20/1 (5 places) NAP
3.40 Sandown – Coral Eclipse (Group 1)
A crap turnout of just four. Paddington and Emily Upjohn head the market with the Ballydoyle horse edging favouritism at 11/10. The Gosden filly is 6/4 and if I was backing either of them I’d be on her at the odds.
Dubai Honour is no mug but he is having his first run for a while after a stint in the Southern Hemisphere. A drop of rain would help his chances.
West Wind Blows is the most likely to cause an upset. He has a mustard record at 10f on decent ground and that Pyledriver form from his last run is solid. Giving weight to the two market leaders isn’t ideal though and with no e/w betting available, this is a no bet race.
