Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card and previews the action at Haydock Park on Saturday with five horses to follow
I shall be at Haydock Park on Saturday to present the prizes for the Group 3 Talk To Victor Rose Of Lancaster Stakes and Jet Away (2.55) looks the one to be with for Sir Henry Cecil; 10f and good or faster ground is perfect for this five-year-old who didn’t have the best of runs at York last time having found the combination of 12f and soft ground too much at Pontefract on his penultimate start.
Hunter’s Light ran well behind Carlton House in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown back in May and was another who may not have got home in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last time; this drop in grade and distance will suit and he represents a big danger in what promises to be a fascinating race with Gabrial, thrashed by Frankel over a mile in the Sussex Stakes last time, stepping up to 10f for the first time. Three year-olds have won five of the last nine renewals of the race and if Gabrial settles he will give himself a great chance of getting home; Ransom Note looks sure to try and make although he has not quite been at his best so far this year.
Talk To Victor Rose Of Lancaster Stakes: EW ¼ 1, 2: 2.55 Haydock Saturday
Jet Away: 13/8
Gabrial: 3/1
Ransom Note: 10/3
Hunter’s Lodge: 7/2
Self Employed: 50/1
There is a terrific 10f handicap with Sir Graham Wade looking for his third win of the month and he is likely to be all the rage despite his 6lb penalty; Dr Marwan Koukash who owns Gabrial in the feature race also owns Gabrial The Great (both named after his son) and it is the latter who gets the nod; the selection has yet to encounter fast ground and firm underfoot conditions would be a concern but he remains a colt of considerable promise.
Anjaz let me down badly at York on her reappearance and cannot be considered but both Rosslyn Castle and Stencive are progressive sorts who have many more races in them; it promises to be a very informative race and there are sure to be a number of future winners.
In the opener Equitania looks sure to attract support on fast ground and she could be a blot on the handicap but Barracuda Boy (1.45) also looks well treated running off a mark only 3lb higher than when easily landing a Bath nursery last time; Tom Dascombe has his string in excellent form and Silvestre De Souza is a significant jockey booking.
It wasn’t a great maiden for the track which Invisible Hunter won at Sandown last month, he got a soft lead and it is possible that he is not quite as good as he looked on that occasion; preference in the BetVictor.com Handicap is for Sir Michael Stoute’s Opinion (3.25) who has the worst of the draw but ran much better than the finishing position would suggest at Goodwood earlier in the month; both wins have come on soft ground but as long as the ground is not rattling fast he can go close.
Dank looks to be improving fast and will relish the ground in the Listed fillies’ event but preference must go to Irish History (4.00) who has run well in better company in recent starts and deserves to win another race dropped in grade.
Postscript runs in the last for Dr Koukash in what could be a red-letter day for the owner but Famous Poet (5.05) is given another chance to show he can be equally as effective on turf as he is on polytrack.
For all your racing odds this weekend check out BetVictor.com – new customers can claim £100 in free bets
Be lucky
Charlie
Compare all horse racing odds and keep up to date with our results service.
