Beverley and Haydock Saturday Tips – DS
Beverley and Haydock Saturday Tips
Our three Sandown selections were backed off the board but only one ran well. Democracy Dilemma didn’t get home after forcing a strong pace. I’m not sure what the story was with John Leeper, maybe he didn’t stay. Lyndon B at least nicked 3rd for us, advised at 25s and returned at 14s. Hopefully we can get a winner on the board tomorrow, Dave Stevos’ Beverley and Haydock Saturday tips below.
1.45 Haydock – Achilles Stakes (Listed)
We kick off Saturday’s action at Haydock with this Listed sprint. Ainsdale has a race like this in him but he’d have a much better chance today on softer ground. Dragon Symbol has the best form in the race and he usually operates at a far higher level than this. However, he has been beat a total of 20L on his last two starts and his comeback run at York was particularly poor. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he bounced back to form in this but at the odds, he is worth taking on.
At double figure odds, Attagirl makes some appeal. Trained by Karl Burke, this filly will bid to become the first 3yo to win this since Excelette in 2012. To be fair, there hasn’t been any 3yo runners for the last two years. Interestingly, in the 2019 renewal two 3yos ran and one of them was a Clipper Logistics and Karl Burke trained filly, Lady In France. She finished 2nd at odds of 20/1 and I think Attagirl has the form to emulate that performance.
By Wootton Bassett, this filly won here maiden in fine style at this track over 6f. Two runs later she dropped to 5f and ran Tardis to within a head in a Listed race at Newbury. Then, she followed that with a 5f Listed win at York. She found G2 and G3 company too hot on her last two starts but she should be more at home in these calmer waters. She gets all the allowances and off a nice low weight, hopefully Attagirl can run into the money at odds of 18/1.
Beverley and Haydock Saturday Tips: Attagirl e/w @ 18/1 (4 places W Hill)
2.05 Beverley – Hilary Needler Stakes (Class 2)
David O’Meara’s juveniles are in great form and he runs two in this £40k race. The most obvious of the two is Star Of Lady M. She won her first two outings before flopping at Chester. It looked like she didn’t handle the track and this test should suit her more. However, both of her wins came on soft ground and these conditions will be a whole lot quicker. Her pedigree suggests she might handle it, but her stablemate, Your Spirit, is definitely bred for this sort of ground.
Jason Watson will ride this daughter of Invincible Spirit. She is out of a two time 2yo winner (one on good to firm) and she is a full sister to the extremely useful 2yo Taajub. Your Spirit was a mid-March foal so she should be fairly well developed physically and David O’Meara’s 2yos are flying. He has had four winners from twelve runners this month alone and this filly must be showing him plenty to be starting off in a race like this. At odds of 33/1, she is worth chancing e/w for small stakes.
Beverley and Haydock Saturday Tips: Your Spirit e/w @ 33/1
2.20 Haydock – Betfred Handicap (Class 2)
Contact looked ahead of his mark last time out at Newmarket. The Barron’s son of Gutaifan won by 2L but it was an easier victory than the winning margin suggests. He is clearly a rapidly improving colt and it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he defies a 5lb hike. At a bigger price, maybe Universal Order can take a step forward from his comeback run at Ascot.
David Simcock’s horses are running into form and this fella shaped as though he was badly in need of the run last time out. He was coming back from a 602 day break so that was understandable. A listed winner over 12f in June 2020, he subsequently ran a blinder behind Eagles By Day in a G3 at York. That earned him a mark of 109 but he is back down to 102 now after that Ascot effort.
If he ran to the same level he showed in either that York G3 or at Newmarket, he can surely be competitive back in handicap company off his current rating. David Simcock has a fine frame hitting strike rate at Haydock (14 wins/62 Top 4s from 155 runners). Danny Muscutt is 3/22 with 7 Top 4s for this yard and he is 2/10 with 4 Top 4s for this owner. Hopefully, those strike rates are enhanced on Saturday. At odds of 22/1, Universal Order is the e/w selection.
Beverley and Haydock Saturday Tips: Universal Order e/w @ 22/1 (4 Places W Hill)
2.40 Beverley – Bet365 Handicap (Class 3)
Back on turf, maybe Flame Of Freedom can make her presence felt in this trappy handicap. Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton, this 4yo daughter of Dragon Pulse should be piping fit after three spins on the all-weather. She went very close off 82 on her seasonal comeback over 7f at Lingfield. She wasn’t disgraced upped to a mile next time at Kempton but she boiled over before her last run at Chelmsford so I am putting a line straight through that effort.
Last season, this filly showed her best form on quick turf. Her career form figures on good or better read 23131 and she hasn’t had her optimum conditions since winning at Epsom last term off 75 (7f gd). Flame Of Freedom showed a good attitude that day and she scored again next time out on the all-weather off 79.
She returns to the grass 7lbs higher than she was at Epsom, but only 3lbs higher than for her last win. Arguably, this filly remains unexposed on quick ground and at odds of 18/1, hopefully the return to grass works the oracle. Flame Of Freedom is the e/w selection.
Beverley and Haydock Saturday Tips: Flame Of Freedom e/w @ 18/1 NB
2.55 Haydock – Pinnacle Stakes (Group 3)
This is an interesting contest but it isn’t a betting race for me. The top two in the betting look pretty solid. William Haggas is having an unreal season and Sea La Rosa is 11/4 to make a winning return from a 212 day break. She made a good impression when winning a listed contest at the backend of last season but she probably needs to improve again to beat the Irish raider Climate.
Jessie Harrington’s daughter of Australia is on the hunt for black type and she narrowly missed out on it in a G2 last time. James Doyle’s job will be to make sure she gets 3rd and she has the form to do that at least. Noon Star disappointed last time but is surely capable of better. Lady Hayes and Nell Quickly are others with pressing claims. Nothing really jumps out as being the wrong price to me so I am happy to give this race a miss. No bet.
Beverley and Haydock Saturday Tips: No bet
3.15 Beverley – Two Year Old Trophy (Class 2)
If he has learned enough from his introduction at Catterick, Corporate Raider could go close here. Trained by Robert Cowell, Danny Tudhope will ride for owner Fitri Hay. This son of Profitable was sent off at 10/1 on his debut (5f gd). He got away okay from the gates but he didn’t seem to know what it was all about and he got badly outpaced. Paul Mulrennan was rowing away from an early stage but eventually, he seemed to get the hang of things.
2F out Corporate Raider was second last and a good distance behind the principals. Mulrennan kept at him though and by the time they hit the line, he was 4th and only 4L behind the winner. He should be far more streetwise with that outing under his belt and Danny Tudhope has hit the frame (without winning) on five of his seven rides on Fitri Hay’s 2yos. At odds of 16/1, Corporate Raider can hopefully run into the places.
Beverley and Haydock Saturday Tips: Corporate Raider e/w @ 16/1
3.30 Haydock – John of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3)
Just like the other Group 3 on the card, this makes little appeal as a betting heat for e/w players. I’d worry about the drying ground for Kinross but he is the class act in the race and he should run well. Sunray Major drops in class and he should be suited by dropping back to 7f. Happy Power comes into the race in great form and he will relish the conditions. Laneqash returns from a break and he also has claims if he is in peak form.
Spycatcher is usually thereabouts in these races and Pogo is another one with the ability to figure. He is back from a spell abroad though so you’d worry that he may just need this run. It is hard to see anything at big odds causing an upset and this is another no bet race.
Beverley and Haydock Saturday Tips: No bet
3.45 Chester – Stellar Sports Handicap (Class 2)
Last season, Gabrial The Wire was beat over 7L on his seasonal return on soft ground here for Conor Murtagh. On his second start, he landed a handicap for Paul Hanagan at York (7f gd/fm) off 87. He has tended to need a run to hit peak form in the past and his career form figures second time up read 2251. The 5th was a superb effort in the Silver Wokingham at Royal Ascot.
Conor Murtagh was again booked for this fella’s seasonal comeback and again, he was beat 7L on soft. Barry McHugh now takes over and he is 5lbs lower than when winning at York last season. This son of Garswood has won three races at Chester and two of them came on quick ground. McHugh rode him for one of those wins and his owner, Marwan Koukash, targets races at this track. Stall 9 obviously isn’t ideal but over this distance the draw isn’t quite as crucial and he has won when drawn 7 of 7 in the past at Chester. 25/1 looks a big price, all things considered, and Gabrial The Wire is worth backing e/w.
