Horse racing Preview of this weekend’s racing with Farringdon: September 9-10
RACING steps up a notch this weekend with the main meeting coming at Haydock Park featuring the Betfair Sprint Cup at 3.35. The open nature of this Group One event is reflected with the 17 runners declared at the 48-hour stage.
This figure could well be whittled down as the ground dries out which looks sure to be on the fast side come this afternoon and makes it slightly less difficult to circumnavigate this famous speed event.
Shaquille is head and shoulders above anything else in the betting list and form wise and indeed deserves to be following impressive wins in the Commonwealth Cup and then arguably a below average July Cup at Newmarket. Still, he could only beat what was put in front of him that day and has a career record of six wins from seven outings. Purely on form he is the top play here, but his price is hugely restrictive and if you were being ultra picky you could suggest that his best form has come on better ground than he will experience here. Haydock have over watered in the past which would be a worry for the genuine fast ground contenders, one of which is the Jubilee Stakes winner KHAADEM. He has since blown out twice, but the ground was to blame at Newmarket behind Shaquille (not disgraced) and then he found the fast five furlongs way too sharp in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.
With the turf drying out and a fast pace assured over this trip, he is no 25/1 shot and the fact that the filly he beat at Ascot, Sacred, is 14/1, makes absolutely no sense at all. The three-year-old filly Lezoo is respected following a comeback win at Listed level last time out, while at a massive price last year’s third Rohaan could easily hit the frame again.
There are plenty of competitive handicaps on the card at the Merseyside track and the one-and-three-quarter mile Old Borough Cup at 3.00 looks top of the tree with the lightly raced Naqeeb likely to head the betting lists. However, he only won an average novice last time out and needs a massive step up in form here and I much prefer the claims of POST IMPRESSIONIST and Caius Chorister. The last named got outpaced as the race sprung into action in the Ebor Handicap last time out before finishing well into a closing sixth, this faster ground will suit. But the William Haggas-trained four-year-old could have his number if they go a decent pillar to post gallop here.
He too was outpaced two-and-a-half furlongs out in the Ebor but came home well under minimal pressure to finish ninth. He gets an extra two pounds from his main rival here and. as long as they don’t dawdle in the early part of the race, I fancy him to land this nice prize under the brilliant Tom Marquand.
At the top of the card, the Group Three Superior Mile Stakes at 1.50 looks wide open and it wouldn’t surprise me if the likely market leader, Light Infantry, is taken out because of the ground. He has by far the best form in the declared field of 14, but his strike rate is not the very best. Still, if they water liberally there is no reason why the ground won’t be safe enough for him. But the percentage call has to be CHINDIT who just found the seven furlongs of the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last time out too sharp and will be much more at home over this extra 220 yards.
Zoology remains unexposed and looks sure to be suited to this first run at a mile and I will be having a saver on this son of Zoustar who could take the next step forward after finishing off his race very nicely when a length second to Age of Kings in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Fourth in last year’s Cambridgeshire Handicap off a mark of 94 behind Bedouin’s Spirit, ZOZIMUS remains a maiden on turf (one from five on the all-weather), but his rating has now plummeted down to just 84 for the Haydock Park finale at 5.15. An eye-catching second of nine to Park Street at Beverley off 82, he should go close under top weight here with the first time visor worn at the pear shaped track retained here.
At Ascot the major betting race is the seven-furlong Bet365 Handicap at 2.35. It is surprising that only 14 runners will go to post for this valuable prize and offers ORBAAN a big chance to win over the course and distance again, granted a fast pace. He didn’t get that scenario at York last time out, but with several entries here likely to race at the sharp end he could get pulled into this contest late on. The likes of Popmaster (stable in cracking form and unlucky in the run last time he visited the Berkshire track) and old boy Bless Him would also be suited by a similar scenario under straight track queen Hayley Turner.
The closing five-furlong handicap at 5.35 sees some old rivals clash yet again. CALL ME GINGER may well be able to follow up his impressive last-gasp win at Chester with Amie Waugh negating the penalty that the Jim Goldie-trained runner picked up that day. Old Mountain Peak would be a massive danger off 90 if he returns to form, while I wouldn’t put anyone off the claims off the relatively lightly raced Fernando Rah.
Away from the two big meetings of the day, I shall also be having an interest in FIRST VIEW in the London Mile Series Handicap Final at Kempton at 2.10 and at a massive price, RUNNER BEAN in the second division of the closing class six, one-mile handicap at 5.45.
