THERE is a plenty of interesting action at Haydock this Saturday with Nunthorpe winner Live In The Dream Unibet 10/11 looking to follow up on his second in the Temple Stakes here two weeks ago and take the Listed contest.
The two Group 3 races are very competitive and the John Of Gaunt in particular is bound to have a very tight finish over this specialist 7f distance. The 2022 winner Pogo, who is one of my selections, will be running in his 30th consecutive stakes race tomorrow, with this sequence starting way back at Leicester in April 2021. A remarkable fact, courtesy of the excellent Nick Luck Daily podcast.
I’m looking forward to this Haydock card and enjoy whether watching #athome or on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster.
2:25 Haydock – Handicap (1m 3f)
Knightswood badly needed his first start of the season at Newmarket at the start of May but he showed the benefit of that when third to Lexington Knight at Doncaster last week, doing some good late work and constantly denied a run when he needed one. He did well to finish as close as he did, in truth, and with no issue whatever the ground is, should go well. It is worth pointing out three of his four wins have come in June, so this is very much his time of the year.
3:00 Haydock – Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes Group 3 (1m 4f)
Lady Boba (nap) is making her first appearance of 2024 after her smart success in a Listed race at Fontainebleau last November when winning by three lengths in the very soft. In England she was second to Madame Ambassador (reopposes here) at Newmarket over 1m 2f when not given a hard race and doing all her best work at the finish on good to firm. Lady Boba won over this trip last season at Ffos Las so ground and distance are fine here. It is important to note that Ralph Beckett has his yard in good form and he has had recent winners running first time out.
Scenic won comfortably on seasonal debut at Kempton last month over this distance and there is lots to like about her attitude. She has been placed at Listed level and looks the type who can step up to bigger things this season. This will require a career best plus performance, yet she is worth an each way play at a big price.
3:15 Beverley – Handicap (7½f)
Billyb ran a cracker on his first start for Craig Lidster when fifth in a competitive handicap at York, doing best of those that raced up with the pace, and although it’s a while since he won one, he’s now a pound lower than his last winning turf mark and this intermediate 7½f trip should suit him down to the ground. Stall 5 looks an ideal pitch to work from, and he should go close.
3:35 Haydock – John Of Gaunt Stakes Group 3 (7f)
Pogo showed he was right back to form when second to Shartash in a listed race over this trip at Haydock last month, with Witch Hunter who reopposes back in third. Pogo typically went off in front before being headed and then came back to Shartash as they neared the finish when beaten a neck. Admittedly Pogo wasn’t at his best when fourth beaten 4¼ lengths by Lockinge runner-up Charyn at Sandown on seasonal debut but Haydock was a step up.
Pogo won this in 2022 and is an eight-year-old, who retains all his enthusiasm plus ability. it is worth noting that Penitent was the same age when successful in 2014, whilst nine-year-olds Quinto and Mine won in 2006 and 2007 respectively.
Ramazan is a four-year-old heading in the right direction after his second in Ascot’s Victoria Cup to the smart The Wizard Of Eye, who could be Group 1 bound. Ramazan raced prominently that day and did well, given the company, to be still there right at the finish. The pace is going to be unrelenting here and he can be right there at the line on the good to firm going, which he won at Haydock on last season. He has the consistency too and his recent form figures read 122-22 for the inform Richard Fahey yard.
The Wine Tipster’s Treble
Another cracking day of racing in store, with The John if Gaunt Stakes just one of a number of thrilling races in store.
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