Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Haydock Park on Saturday. View selections below.
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HARRY ANGEL (2.25) can overcome attritional conditions to land the 32Red Sprint Cup at muddy Haydock.
Trainer Clive Cox has kept his cool as Harry Angel continues to drift in the betting on the back of fears that the brilliant July Cup winner will sink in the deep ground.
There has been sustained support for Brando, last year’s Ayr Gold Cup hero and a recent winner on a soft surface at Deauville. Harry Angel had Brando back in third at Newmarket and has some backform on a softish surface. Harry Angel’s class can see him prevail and his sire Dark Angel liked it soft.
There are some difficult handicaps on the 32Red-sponsored undercard with CURLEW RIVER (1.20) taking a slight drop in grade after running fifth to in-form My Retreat at Chester last Saturday.
Mark Johnston’s filly was trapped wide for most of the race and she can return to the form which saw her record victories at Leicester and Brighton before being elevated in grade.
CONFESSIONAL (3.00) also ran at Chester seven days ago but enjoyed no luck in running down the straight. Tim Easterby’s old boy was beaten a head in this event last year by Soie D’Leau, who re-opposes, and Confessional is 2lb lower here. The form of his third to Guishan at the Roodee a fortnight ago received a boost when the winner went in again at Hamilton.
BENBATL (3.35) drops to a mile after running fifth to Enable in the King George at Ascot and although this is a drastic change in distance the Godolphin three-year-old landed the 1m 2f Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. In any case, stamina will be a requirement this afternoon and Benbatl has a touch of class.
SEPAL (4.10) has made remarkable strides in the past five weeks and Iain Jardine hands his filly her hardest assignment to date in the 1m 6f handicap.
The four-year-old has scored at Ayr, Thirsk and Hamilton and although Sepal could be going to the well once too often, her ability to handle deep ground will be a considerable bonus. Jamie Gormley’s 7lb claim is another helpful tool and she can spike a few of the better fancied southern big guns.
Chester winner My Reward will ensure a sound gallop but is up another 7lb.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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