It’s a busy day all around the British Isles. Premier racedays at Haydock and Goodwood, a group race at York plus the small matter of Irish Guineas Weekend over at The Curragh. You could say racing fans are in a dream world today. I’ve managed to distil it down to three races at Haydock plus the main Group One event for Four To Follow.
Haydock
No More Rain
1:15 – Betfred Silver Bowl Handicap (Heritage) – Candonomore @ 4/1 (BetVictor)
With the removal of Volterra from proceedings, signs show that the ground is not just soft, it’s Haydock soft. One horse who can combat this is the new favourite, Candonomore for Tim Easterby. He won not only over C&D last time out, but also on similar ground too. Despite being impressive, winning by nearly four lengths, he comes into this race bottom of the weights and looks very appealing.
Sir Les Patterson is making his turf debut today but should command respect with two wins to his name. His last win at Kempton saw him holding off a late challenge and digging in deep. He’s drawn next to Volterra in stall 12, so will have the challenge of overcoming a particularly nasty draw. Nut the trend for this race has been horses coming off the back of a couple of wins, and Sir Les Patterson ticks that box and is weighted nicely. Each-way value at 10/1 (BetVictor).
Things Can Only Get Better
1:50 – Betfred Temple Stakes (Group Two) – Live In The Dream @ 7/2 (General)
Live In The Dream was one of the best stories of the season when he won the Nunthorpe at the Ebor meeting, but sadly the American dream didn’t come true. Last year he came third in this race, beaten by the then three-year-old Dramatised. He had a few hard luck stories last season but comes in here top weighted. Some will say that Live In The Dream wants fast rattling ground, but he has won and performed on soft well previously.
As mentioned, three-year-olds have a decent record in the race. With so much weight given to them it’s hard to ignore. Seven Questions should have the answers. In his two-year-old season he showed a liking for soft ground, so will handle it at Haydock, and comes into this race off the back of a win. He managed to fly home down the outside on the Rowley mile on good ground, so the softer the better for him. 14/1 (General).
Never Forget
2:25 – Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Sandy Lane Stakes (Group Two) – Vandeek @ 8/13 (William Hill, BetVictor)
Everyone has seem to have forgotten about Vandeek. He’s an unbeaten colt who performed exceptionally well last season and improved with every run. If you look at his form, he’s won on all sorts of ground, including soft. The form worked out into this season when Givemethebeatboys, third in last year’s Cheveley Park, won at Naas in April. I have every confidence he will deliver.
One of my favourite horses in training, Purosangue, should run a decent race in behind. Knowing his mother, Avon Breeze, he will definitely get the ground. He’s also proven that with a win at York at the back-end of last season. Despite being one of the low rated horses in the race, ground will matter a lot over the sprint course. 9/1 (BetVictor).
Curragh
Not Another One
3:40 – Irish 2000 Guineas (GROUP ONE) – Rosallion @ 10/11 (William Hill)
If there’s one thing separating River Tiber and Rosallion, it’s that Rosallion has run and won over a mile. Rosallion finished the best of the favourites behind Notable Speech but was himself nearly two lengths clear of third. Top rated and surely heading for a rematch against Notable Speech at Ascot, he has to be feared most here. And there doesn’t look to be another major upset in this one.
I also think that for the Irish, Unquestionable is their best shout. Unquestionable has form behind Rosallion, in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagadere, and followed that second up with a win at the Breeders’ Cup. For Ryan Moore to choose a horse that hasn’t run over a mile may prove to be unwise, and I’m going with the second runner for Ballydoyle to run a good race in behind the odds-on favourite. 7/1 (General).
The very best of luck!
