Haydock and York Saturday Tips by Dave Stevos
Haydock and York Saturday Tips and Preview
What a day of action we have in store this Saturday. The ITV4 cameras will be at Goodwood, Haydock and York and we also get the added bonus of the 2000 Guineas from the Curragh. I have already posted my tips for Irish Guineas weekend, click here to see them. In the UK the Sandy Lane and Temple Stakes are the highlights. Conditions are likely to be pretty testing at all four meetings. Check out my Goodwood, Haydock and York Saturday tips below.
1.40 Goodwood – Mansionbet Handicap (Class 2)
Goodwood is a course where quite often, the best horse doesn’t win. It is the spiritual home of hard luck stories and I have experienced plenty of those at the Sussex track in recent seasons. The first live race from there on Saturday is a 14f Class 2 Handicap. Eight horses are due to run. However, if it comes up really soft there will likely be a non-runner or two. The favourite Prince Alex won’t mind easy conditions and he shaped very nicely on his return at Salisbury (14f gd). He is just 5lb higher than when winning at York on his final start last term. This progressive 4yo looks to be a worthy market leader for his in-form yard.
Hyanna has a good record at this track (322) on heavy but all those runs came over 12f. She hasn’t shaped like she wants this far and she may need some help from the handicapper. Another one with excellent course form is Just In Time. This fella won here over 12f in 2017 and 14f in 2018, his only two previous visits. Those wins came off 60 and 84 and he is in off 91 today. His last win came off 94 though so he is starting to look feasibly handicapped again.
After his last win at Doncaster (14f gd/sft) he ran midfield in the Cesarewitch off 98. Something must have been amiss because he was absent for the guts of two years subsequently. He ran a couple of decent races last year without really threatening. However, he has his optimum conditions here and he is proven on the track. Jim Crowley looks a solid booking and at odds of 9/1, Just In Time is the e/w pick.
Goodwood Saturday Tip: Just In Time e/w @ 9/1
1.55 Haydock – Casumo Handicap (Class 3)
The ground will be extremely testing at Haydock today. The mud will be flying and one horse that won’t have any problems with the ground is Redarna. Trained by Dianne Sayer, this son of Aqlaam has run well twice on heavy in the past and he was very unlucky not to win on his first attempt on that sort of ground at Carlisle over 7f. That is the trip for this contest and on a day when stamina will be at a premium, this 8f soft ground winner shouldn’t be lacking in that department.
He has had two runs at Haydock in the past, including his last outing, but both were on quick ground. Most of his 10 career wins have come with an ease and his form figures on soft/heavy read 33811. Dropping back down to class 3 company is in his favour and the booking of Paul Mulrennan is another plus. He is 3/5 aboard this fella and he has 8 wins from just 26 rides for Sayer. Redarna races off a mark of 89 today, just 1lb above his last winning rating. At odds of 22/1, he is the each way selection.
Haydock and York Saturday Tip: Redarna e/w @ 22/1 NAP (4 places)
2.10 Goodwood – Festival Stakes (Listed)
With just five runners due to go to post this race doesn’t appeal as a betting heat. Stormy Antarctic is an old favourite of mine and he will love the ground. Desert Encounter is another stalwart that will handle the conditions and Majestic Dawn, who we were on at 40s in the Cambridgeshire, is also a horse that should be at home on soft or heavy ground. Nothing looks particularly overpriced though so I’ll be sitting this one out. No bet.
goodwood Saturday Tip: No Bet
2.25 Haydock – Casumo App Handicap (Class 2)
The one that catches the eye in this 16f handicap is Vindolanda for Hanagan and Charlie Hills. This 5yo Nathaniel mare made her comeback at Wolves last month over 14f. She didn’t run at all badly considering the bit slipped. With that run behind her she should strip much fitter and stepping back up to 16f on testing ground should suit her.
Her last two wins have come over 14f but she proved her stamina for this distance when running a cracker at Chester last season (16f gd/sft). Another cause for optimism is this mare’s course form. She is 2/3 at this track, winning once at 12f (hvy) and also over 14f (sft).
Vindolanda also looks fairly treated right now. She is in here off 82, just 1lb higher than she was for her last victory at Nottingham back in October. On this ground, carrying just 8st 9lbs is a big advantage and I think there are more than enough positives to warrant a small each way bet at odds of 11/1.
Haydock and York Saturday Tip: Vindolanda e/w @ 11/1
2.40 York – Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3)
This is a 14f Group 3 for the girls and I think Tribal Craft looks way overpriced at double figure odds. This daughter of Mastercraftsman was sent off at a huge price on her comeback at Ascot (12f sft). She ran a massive race to finish 2nd behind the easy winner Albaflora. The winning margin was 7L but Andrew Balding’s charge met trouble in running. Only for that, she may well have finished a couple of lengths closer.
Tribal Craft’s rating of 96 remained unchanged after that fine run. If that mark is correct she has no chance of beating the top 4 highest rated in the field but I think she ran to at least 100+ in that Doncaster heat. Albaflora definitely ran better than her rating of 102 in that contest and our selection was 7.5L in front of the 107 rated Without A Fight and 8.5L clear of the 106 rated Outbox. The bookies have overlooked her again in this race and at odds of 12/1, Tribal Craft looks well worth backing each way.
Haydock and York Saturday Tip: Tribal Craft e/w @ 12/1
3.00 Haydock – Silver Bowl Handicap (Class 2)
The heavy ground is probably the reason that only ten were declared for this valuable 8f handicap. A few of them have form on soft ground but not many have run well on heavy. Some have never even faced conditions like this before. Master Zoffany won well for us on good to soft at Chester last time out and this unexposed 3yo could well take to this ground. His late sire, Zoffany, has produced plenty of talented testing ground performers and this fella shaped well on soft on his debut at Musselburgh last season (7f).
His Grand-Dam was related to some classy heavy ground winners and it is encouraging that Paul Hanagan has opted to ride him rather than Seasett, who he also won easily on last time out. Master Zoffany races off 84, a career high mark, but he is having just his seventh career start and it would be no surprise if there was more improvement to come. Hopefully he handles the testing ground and if he does, I can see him going pretty close at odds of 10/1.
Haydock and York Saturday Tip: Master Zoffany e/w @ 10/1
3.35 Haydock – Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)
The one that looks an absolutely nuts price in this 6f Group 2 is Apollo One. Trained by Peter Charalambous, this son of Equiano has some quality form in the book. He was only beaten 3.5L in a Group 3 on his return to the turf after a gallant effort at Lingfield on All-Weather Championships Day. He booked his spot in that contest by landing a 7f heat at the same track back in March. The horse he beat by a short head, Megallan, was subsequently narrowly defeated in the Dante. The 3rd home, El Drama, went on to win the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester.
This horse has had just one run on soft ground and it resulted in a class 2 conditions win at Salisbury. His dam won on soft and heavy for this yard and his sire Equiano’s progeny usually handle testing ground. With regular jockey Martin Harley engaged elsewhere, Luke Morris comes in for the ride. He has three wins and two seconds from just 16 rides for Charalambous and he was 3rd in a Sandown G3 on his only previous try aboard this fella. If he handles the heavy ground Apollo One could easily sneak into the frame at odds of 25/1.
Haydock and York Saturday Tip: Apollo One e/w @ 25/1 nb
3.50 York – William Hill Handicap (Class 2)
After an eye-catching effort here last time at astronomical odds, Zargun could be worth backing in this. He hails from the in-form Scott Dixon yard and he ran a cracker to finish 3rd over 6f last time out at odds of 125/1. He was beat just a length by Mr Lupton and he relished the bit of cut in the ground. The handicapper hiked him up 1lb for that effort to 95 but if he can repeat that level of form again he won’t be far away today.
This son of Rock Of Gibraltar had some very smart form when he was trained in Germany. He was 2nd in a Group 3 on soft (6f) at Hamburg and he has been placed multiple times at Listed level. That run last time was one of his best and on that evidence, dropping back a furlong could suit. He showed plenty of early dash and while all his wins have come over further, a strongly run 5f at York could be right up his street.
David Probert comes in for the ride and he has 2 wins and 7 top 4 finishes from just 17 rides for Scott Dixon. Zargun is drawn 14 of 14 but the last two winners of this race were drawn high so hopefully it won’t inconvenience him too much. Scott Dixon has had two winners and four places from his last nine runners and with ground and track to suit, Zargun is the e/w pick at odds of 12/1.
Haydock and York Saturday Tip: Zargun e/w @ 12/1 (4 places)
4.10 Haydock – Temple Stakes (Group 2)
The finale on ITV4 this Saturday is the 5f Temple Stakes. Three of the seven runners are having their first outing of the season, including the jolly Liberty Beach. She is a filly who I expected big things from last season but she never really fulfilled her potential. Okay, she ran very well behind Battaash in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot and she also went close in the Prix L’Abbaye on her final run but a return of just one win from six starts has to rate as disappointing for a filly with her talent. Her best form has come on better ground than this too, so while she won first time up last season, this time she may be best watched.
My idea of a value bet in this contest is Ainsdale. Trained by Karl Burke, this son of Mayson relishes it when the mud is flying. He is only rated 98, which means he will have to improve markedly, but the very heavy ground could slow some of his rivals down and he is a certainty to run to his best on it. His form figures on soft/heavy read 14111, admittedly in lesser company than this. However, one of those wins came off level weights vs Ropey Guest and that is pretty solid form. He was only a length behind the 106 rated El Astronaute (getting 3lbs) last time at Chester and with ground and fitness concerns about quite a few of his opponents, Ainsdale is the e/w selection.
