Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Haydock Park, Catterick Bridge and Newmarket on Saturday. View selections below.
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GROWL (4.05) can roar back to winning form in the Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes at muddy Haydock.
Richard Fahey’s gelding, running in the Dr Marwan Koukash colours, handles a soft surface and will strip sharper for his recent comeback in the Duke Of York Clipper Logistics at York.
Despite meeting a little trouble in running over a furlong out, Growl stayed on into seventh spot behind Royal Ascot-bound Tasleet. That was a Group 2 contest over six furlongs and today’s extra distance in lesser grade should make Growl very competitive at odds of around 9-2.
Brecon Rock is a regular in this event and is another to revel in deep ground. He was pipped by Penitent in 2014, finished seventh in 2015 and ran fourth to Home Of The Brave last year on good ground.
His ability to handle a deep surface was graphically underlined in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury when chasing home top-class Ribchester and Lightning Spear. Breton Rock has to concede weight all-round now.
Jallota won a three-runner Conditions Stakes event over course and distance (soft) last July and his third to Sovereign Debt and Gabrial in the Bet365 Mile at Sandown in April is looking better and better.
Absolutely So was beaten a neck by Oh This Is Us over course and distance last month, with So Beloved a useful yardstick held in third.
Mitchum Swagger takes a slight drop in grade and merits respect.
AJMAN PRINCESS (3.30) is just edging favouritism in the Betway Pinnacle Stakes, a Group 3 contest for fillies and mares over 1m 4f.
Roger Varian’s four-year-old ran a screamer in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on soft ground last June, finding only Even Song too strong. She has won both starts this term, at Lingfield and Goodwood, and sets a high standard.
Irish raider Laganore finished fourth when well fancied last year and made a satisfactory return at the Curragh behind Turret Rocks.
Maleficent Queen hasn’t had the soft ground she enjoys for quite some time and is ready to step up on her recent third to Nezwaah at Ayr.
Tom Dascombe and Richard Kingscote have been a money-making combination over the years at Haydock and FULL INTENTION (2.20) has a lovely draw in stall 10 in the Betway Sprint Handicap.
The gelding was runner-up on soft ground at Chester last summer and caught the eye when chasing home previous winner El Hombre over course and distance in May.
Unexposed Pennsylvania Dutch and Mick Appleby’s Nottingham scorer Fantasy Keeper are another two for the shortlist.
The Dascombe/Kingscote team also hold live each-way prospects with REFLEKTOR (2.50) at big odds.
The four-year-old is a dual winner on soft and ran well in a Class 2 handicap at Windsor last term when running fifth to Growl. He isn’t particularly well handicapped but attritional conditions are a great leveller.
Snap Shots, formerly trained by Dascombe but now with Tony Coyle, makes a quick reappearance having run Pipers Note to a head a Ripon on Wednesday. This course and distance winner also showed up well behind Duke Of Firenze at York and is running into peak form.
Mick Easterby has booked Ryan Moore for popular grey Holiday Magic, a three-time all-weather winner this winter but progressive on turf. He was noted running on strongly into sixth spot behind Reputation in a fiercely competitive sprint at Epsom last Saturday and had previously occupied the same position in the Victoria Cup at Ascot.
Six furlongs is on the sharp side for Holiday Magic but deep ground will make this more of a stamina test.
David Barron’s Handsome Dude has a great pitch under the rail and handles soft.
At Newmarket, JUANITO CHICO (2.30) and Sylvestre De Sousa team up again in a competitive 7f Class 2 handicap.
The three-year-old looked one to follow after a showing a breathtaking burst of speed to cut down Wahash at Epsom last Friday.
Juanito Chico was most unlucky when third to Hajaj at Ascot on his previous start and his finishing kick could prove decisive.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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