A busy Saturday of action ahead with the Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh, Group 2 action at Haydock with the Sandy Lane and Temple Stakes, as well as a competitive card at Goodwood.
Field Of Gold is Unibet Evens to take the Irish 2,000 Guineas and whilst this is his third start in five weeks, he can take this Group 1 with Cosmic View the main danger, whilst Rashabar could run a big race stepping up to a mile for the first time.
Enjoy whether at a racecourse or watching on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1:15 Haydock – Jack Berry House Hell Nook Handicap (1m)
Great Chieftain really caught the eye when returning to winning ways at Newmarket last time out when always travelling well just behind the pace and then he started to move forwards from two furlongs out, quickening up at the furlong pole to stay on strongly up the hill to win by a length and a quarter to beat Classic Encounter, who ran well on his next start, as did the fourth Sterling Knight.
It is important to point out that Great Chieftain’s four wins have come over this distance, whilst a step up to a longer trip didn’t work at Newbury last time out and you can expect him to run another big race here.
Unibet 7/2
Best Rate for Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon ran over a mile at Newmarket on his penultimate start when running freely early on and then faded near the finish to fourth to Fort George, who was second at Goodwood on Friday after never going a yard!
Best Rate then headed to York running over this trip in a 14-runner handicap where he managed to get some cover before being denied a clear run and once he made some headway he was just pipped on the line by Rare Change, who reopposes here. These two are very tightly matched obviously, though Best Rate is progressing nicely and if he gets the cover in this big field from stall 7, he will be right in the mix.
Unibet 8/1 each way
Miss Nightfall was favourite for the British EBF Fillies’ Series Final at Goodwood last September over this trip and looked like the winner a furlong out until not quite appearing to stay when finishing runner-up, though this looked more to do with the heavy ground not suiting her, as she certainly handled the track.
Miss Nightfall had a consistent juvenile career with form figures of 32132 and her one victory was at Windsor on good to firm over six furlongs.
She is a very likeable type and has each way claims at a minimum in this competitive handicap.
Unibet 11/1 each way
2:25 Haydock – British EBF Hedge Of Oak Stakes Listed (1m 2½f)
Francophone on seasonal debut was fourth in the Nottinghamshire Oaks to Ambiente Amigo (reopposes here) when looking three out like she was going to stride on and take the race. On reflection, maybe she needed the run more than was first thought, as she faded in the last furlong, though she wasn’t given a hard race against a race-fit winner, who had finished a good second on her previous start.
Francophone has loads of ability and given she will come on plenty for that seasonal debut will be right there.
Unibet 17/2 each way
3.30 Haydock – Temple Stakes Group 2 (5f)
American Affair (nap) continues on his upward trajectory, and he has won his two starts this season in impervious fashion by typically small margins over three quarters of a length and a length respectively. The handicapper was clearly impressed after his most recent victory at York, raising him from a mark of 98 to 105, as American Affair was typically dropped in and then moved forward smoothly from off the pace to quicken well in his usual style to lead right near the line in typical fashion.
It you look back to last season he may not have delivered his usual run in the Ayr Gold Cup, yet in the Portland at Doncaster he took the lead to beat Apollo One in the final strides, who is a very good yardstick as we know.
It you head back to May 2023, when in a Class 5 Novice Stakes on his third start he secured his first victory it is remarkable to see where he is now, with still plenty of improvement to come and if he can get dropped in here he will run a big race.
Unibet 9/2
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