Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Haydock, Newmarket and Chester on Saturday. View selections below.
CUBANITA (2.05) won’t mind any more rain in the Haydock region and rates a cracking wager in the Pinnacle Stakes. Ralph Beckett’s mare opened her current campaign with a verdict over resurgent Noble Mission in the John Porter at muddy Newbury but a tilt at the Yorkshire Cup came unstuck when she failed to see out the 1m 6f trip. Back running against her own sex, Cubanita probably has Sir Michael Stoute’s Astonishing to beat in this Group 3 contest.
ETON FOREVER (2.40) held sway over Breton Rock at Leicester in April and the pair lock horns again in the Timeform Jury Stakes. Breton Rocks has since boosted the form by posting a course and distance victory over Custom Cut, but Eton Forever had three lengths to spare over Breton Rock at Leicester and is the type to go well fresh. Pat Smullen is an eye-catching booking by Richard Fahey for classy Garswood, while German raider Amarillo bids to follow up last year’s success in this tricky event.
GOLDSTREAM (3.00) represents sprint king Robert Cowell in the Betfair-sponsored six-furlong handicap at Newmarket and his recent course and distance winner is primed for another big effort, despite a 5lb rise for that success. Goldstream seems at his best in these competitive affairs, having also posted a brave second to Bogart at York’s Ebor meeting last summer.
SPECULATIVE BID (4.40) should go off a decent price in a wide-open Betsi Golden Mile Handicap which features a barrowload of improving three-year-olds. David Elsworth’s colt sluiced through the mud to score by four lengths at Doncaster and a 3lb rise seems fair, especially with top apprentice Joey Haynes taking off 5lb.
PURPLE SPECTRUM (4.50) can carry the Queen’s silks with distinction in the 1m 4f handicap at Chester. This is only his third career start for William Haggas and he was still learning the game when beating Lamorak at Windsor last time. Purple Spectrum showed distinct promise on his debut behind useful Cloudscape at Kempton before Christmas and a handicap mark of 80 looks workable.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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