Curragh Haydock & York Saturday Preview – DS
Curragh Haydock & York Saturday Tips
It is a massive weekend in Ireland with the 2000 and 1000 Guineas the features. We have backed two horses ante-post, see who they are here. We also have decent action in the UK, check out our Goodwood, Curragh Haydock & York Saturday tips below.
2.05 Goodwood – William Hill Handicap (Class 2)
He isn’t a monstrous price but there is enough juice in his odds of 12/1 to warrant an e/w bet on Prairie Falcon. Trained by the in form Michael Dods, this horse ticks the course and distance box. His only run here came in July of last year on his handicap debut (7f gd/fm) and he just about prevailed off a mark of 74 under Hollie Doyle. He won again at Ayr three runs later off 76 (6f gd) and he pitches up here off 79.
The son of Belardo made his seasonal reappearance at Pontefract in April (6f sft). Off a mark of 81 he was beat 3.5L into 4th and he filled the same position later that month at Musselburgh (8f gd/sft). His trainer wasn’t in form back then and the ease in the ground probably didn’t help either. Now, back on fast ground for the first time since his Ayr win with Hayley Turner booked (1/6 + 2 places for Dods), hopefully Prairie Falcon can regain the winning habit at odds of 12/1.
Goodwood Saturday Tip: Prairie Falcon e/w @ 12/1 (4 places) NB
2.25 Haydock – Silver Bowl Handicap (Heritage)
Off a mark of 97 with Callum Hutchinson taking off 3lbs, the outsider Stormbuster could go well here. Andrew Balding trains this son of Dubawi and he is in great form at the minute. This horse has been written off by the bookies after back to back poor runs at Epsom and Chester. However, the ground was soft on both occasions so it may be too soon to say he hasn’t trained on.
When he has had ground with good in the description, his form has been rock solid. On debut he was only beat 3.5L by Isaac Shelby at Newbury and that form looks decent now. His second start at Sandown (7f gd) saw him finish 3rd, 2L behind the now 100 rated One Nation. Next, he chased home Flying Colours in a Listed heat at Salisbury (7f gd) and that horse is now rated 110 after winning a G3.
Balding’s charge finally got off the mark in a class 2 conditions race at Newbury (8f gd), beating Highbank (rated 98) by 5 lengths. That’s the last time he had his ground and if he can repeat that form at Haydock, surely he can make his presence felt off an effective mark of 94. At odds of 33/1, Stormbuster is the e/w selection.
Curragh Haydock & York Saturday Tip: Stormbuster e/w @ 33/1 (4 places)
2.40 York – William Hill Handicap (Class 2)
Hopefully Amie Waugh can make it third time lucky at York aboard Sound Of Iona in this sprint. Trained by Jim Goldie, this daughter of Orientor shaped as though a return to form was imminent at Musselburgh (5f gd) last time out. She was travelling well with nowhere to go 3f out and when the gap eventually came, she ran on well to finish a never nearer 5th.
She was admittedly beaten 5L but with a clear run she’d have got an awful lot closer. The handicapper left her mark alone at 80 so she is 4lbs lower than when Waugh was beat 1.5L on her at Newmarket over 7f last September. Earlier that month she was beat 0.5L off 86 in a 6f Ascot handicap so there is no doubt that she is well treated right now.
Before those two good runs Sound Of Iona ran back to back races at York. On the first occasion (5f gd) she finished 5th of 17 off 76 and then she was beat 1.25L over 7f the following day. This 5f trip is fine for her and it is a far bigger pot than last time so hopefully, she’ll be there to do her best. If Sound Of Iona is on a going day, she is capable of reaching the frame at odds of 16/1.
Curragh Haydock & York Saturday Tip: Sound Of Iona e/w @ 16/1 (4 places)
3.00 Haydock – Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)
Just eight run in this G2 Sprint for the 3yos and yet again, Matilda Picotte is being hugely underestimated by the bookies. We backed Kieran Cotter’s filly at 50s in the 1000 Guineas and she ran an absolutely huge race to finish a clear 3rd. She had all of them bar the first two in big trouble 3f out and this drop back in trip looks a shrewd move.
The daughter of Sioux Nation is exceedingly speedy and she’ll be attempting to make all here from Stall 1, just like Harry Angel did a few years ago. With only 8 runners on quick ground the draw won’t be an issue and Ronan Whelan will pin his ears back and head straight down the middle of the track. On her last start at 6f she absolutely hosed up in a Listed heat at Newmarket (gd/sft) and while her last three runs have come on easy ground, she was an excellent 3rd in the Lowther on fast ground last season.
Cold Case is drawn in stall 3 and he is another potential front runner. However, he has to give the Cotter filly 3lbs and that won’t be an easy task. Little Big Bear is the biggest threat on the figures but he flopped in the Guineas. Better ground should suit him but he’s short enough in the betting. Matilda Picotte isn’t 50s this time but she is as big as 9/1 and while that is too short for the blog, it is far too big given her form. No bet for us here but I’ll be hoping Matilda leads them on a merry dance.
Curragh Haydock & York Saturday Tip: No Bet
3.30 Haydock – Temple Stakes (Group 2)
Annaf may be 0/6 on turf compared to 5/10 on the all-weather, but he proved at York last time out that he is capable of being competitive in stakes races on grass. In that G2 Mick Appleby’s son of Muhaarar ran a massive race behind Azure Blue, Highfield Princess and our old pal Commanche Falls.
As they approached the 3f pole Tom Marquand was looking to make ground but he found himself caught in a pocket behind the first three finishers. Annaf was still travelling well but Marquand couldn’t get fully stuck into him and when he did eventually switch for a clear run, the leaders had flown and the race was gone.
Annaf picked up well enough once the gap came and he managed to reel in Marshman and finish 4th. This time Jason Watson gets the ride and I’m hoping he’ll be able to thread a clearer passage than Marquand last time. The drop from 6f to 5f shouldn’t pose a problem and he should get a very strong pace to aim at. Appleby also runs Raasel, a former C&D winner, but Annaf showed more than enough last time to justify an e/w interest at odds of 25/1.
Curragh Haydock & York Saturday Tip: Annaf e/w @ 25/1 (4 places) NAP
3.40 Curragh – Irish 2000 Guineas (Group 1)
I’ve already previewed this race (and the 1000). Bold Discovery is out to 50s but that doesn’t really bother me. Billy Lee is a good booking and the fact that Dusty Foley is on Quar Shamar isn’t as big a negative as it looks because Foley is retained by the owner of that horse. There’s a couple of firms now paying 4 places, if you haven’t backed Bold Discovery yet I wouldn’t put you off. Hopefully he runs a big race.
