12 Jun 2019
With six races televised by ITV on Saturday, there is plenty to get stuck into. Haydock Park and Newmarket’s July course is the focal point as we look to boost the kitty before Royal Ascot.
Haydock Park’s seven-race card, which starts at 2.15, comprises a couple of Group 3s and a Listed race.
There may only be six runners for the opening race on ITV4’s offering from Haydock Park, but the 1m4f handicap looks a wide-open contest, where a case can be made for each. Preference is for the Richard Hannon-trained Star Of Southwold (2.15, Haydock). He was thought good enough to run in the Lingfield Derby Trial and while he finished fifth and has a lofty mark of 89 for this handicap debut, this is a much easier task. While the least experienced, there was plenty to like about his win in a novices’ race at Newmarket prior to his Lingfield run.
The first of the Group 3 contests is the Pinnacle Stakes, run over 1m4f for fillies and mares.
The Luca Cumani-trained God Given will be a warm order, having had a run under her belt in a Listed event over the same trip at Ascot last month. A Group 3 winner last season, she won a maiden here last June, which saw her go on to record a hat-trick.
However, Roger Charlton’s string has been in decent form of late and Cribbs Causeway (2.50pm, Haydock) looked a filly on the upgrade late last season, winning a couple of high-class handicaps and was only beaten two lengths on her seasonal return in a Group 3 at York. She is a consistent daughter of Rip Van Winkle, who won five and was placed on two other occasions in her last eight runs last season. Her lone modest run came over a taxing 1m6f, but gets her ideal trip today.
While former champion jockey Jim Crowley has had a fairly quiet start as retained first jockey to Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, Muthmir (3.25pm, Haydock) can give him a much needed big Saturday winner in the Listed Achilles Stakes. Fifth in the Temple Stakes over course and distance two weeks ago, he seeks a first win since landing a Chantilly Group 2 in June last year, but is rated 4lb superior or more than his nine rivals.
Godolphin may hold the key to the Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes, with Charles Hills saddling Dutch Connection, while the Derby-winning combination of trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick are represented by D’BAI (NAP 4.00pm, Haydock). The gelded son of Dubawi won a decent handicap in Meydan in January and made a decent British return when beaten narrowly by top sprinter The Tin Man in a Listed race at Windsor three weeks ago. That was over 6f, but Saturday’s 7f trip seems to suit him better.
At Newmarket, a competitive 3yo handicap includes a quartet of last-time-out winners and while the handicapper has taken no chances with runaway Beverley maiden scorer Georgian Manor (3.05 Newmarket), who runs off a mark of 89, the Iffraaj gelding looks a typical Sir Michael Stoute improver.
Ryan Moore has a decent book of rides at HQ and can take the 1m6f handicap with Byron Flyer (3.40 Newmarket), who was a head second in this race last year. Five times a runner-up in his last seven starts for Ian Williams, he ran on strongly behind The Grand Visir at Haydock last time and compensation awaits.
Saturday’s Selections:
BEVERLEY: 2.05 Mr Gent, 2.40 Victory Command, 3.15 No Lippy, 3.50 Extra Mile, 4.25 Detachment, 5.00 Clarabel, 5.35 Christmas Night, 6.10 Onefootinparadise
CATTERICK: 1.45 Arishka, 2.20 Mr Strutter, 2.55 Collodi, 3.30 Raselasad,4.05 Italian Riviera, 4.40 Byron’s Choice, 5.15 Emphatic
HAYDOCK PARK: 2.15 Star Of Southwold, 2.50 Cribbs Causeway, 3.25 Muthmir, 4.00 D’BAI (NAP), 4.35 Summerghand, 5.10 Breaking Records, 5.45 Knowing Glance
NEWMARKET (July): 2.00 Octave, 2.35 Double Up, 3.05 Georgian Manor, 3.40 Byron Flyer, 4.15 Aim Of Artemis, 4.50 Arthenia, 5.25 Valcartier
MUSSELBURGH: 1.55 Reverend Jacobs (nb), 2.30 Dark Shot, 3.10 Ballistic, 3.45 Ventura Gold, 4.20 Sebastian’s Wish, 4.55 Mr Potter, 5.30 Tommy G
LINGFIELD PARK: 5.50 Squire, 6.20 Pass The Gin, 6.50 Desert Forest, 7.20 Tai Hang Dragon, 7.50 Oliver Reed, 8.20 Cat Royale, 8.50 Free Talkin
STRATFORD: 6.00 Calarules, 6.35 Casino Markets, 7.05 Ashkoul, 7.35 Wadswick Court, 8.05 Aardwolf, 8.35 Ambusson, 9.05 Court Royale
