HAATEM was beaten in a messy mile race at Goodwood last time but the Royal Ascot winner looks all set to make amends at Haydock on Saturday.
Richard Hannon’s four-year-old could only finish third behind Never So Brave in that Sussex Group 2 but little went right for stand-in Sean Levey that day and James Doyle is back on board for this ten furlongs Group 3 at 3.0.
2
2
Doyle steered last year’s seven furlongs Jersey Stakes winner to a second Royal meeting success over ten furlongs in June and while excuses could be made back over a mole at Goodwood, Saturday’s mile and a quarter could now be an optimum trip.
Recent Hamilton Glasgow Stakes winner Nahraan heads the betting for Haydock’s Rose Of Lancaster Stakes but that three-year-old is dropping back in trip and I’d be confident that Haatem can prove his class and concede the 8lbs weight-for-age.
SPIRIT OF JURA (5/1) was a Saturday night winner at Hamilton for this column last week and I’m backing BOY DOUGLAS to complete an Ayr hat-trick this Saturday night at 7.42.
YAASER ran two excellent races on successive days at York two weeks ago and the Jim Goldie trained seven-year-old can get back to winning form in Musselburgh’s 3.20 on Friday.
Stable apprentice Lauren Young has been switched on to the stable’s hat-trick seeking Inanna after doing the steering on Yaaser both times on the Knavesmire but Paul Mulrennan gets the leg up on my selection and this seven furlongs Class 3 looks ideal.
ANOTHER ABBOT looked like he needed his first run in a month at Windsor last time but he was only beaten three and a half lengths by a Michael Dods’ trained improver completing a hat-trick and the three-year-old can win Thursday’s ‘Brighton Bullet’ at 3.30.
Top-weight Abate will take some catching but Tom Marquand’s mount will be suited by the likely strong pace and trainer William Haggas has been cleaning up in sprint handicaps all summer.
DARK SIDE THUNDER is still 2lbs above his last winning mark as he tackles Newmarket’s 7.05 but Jessica Macey applies blinkers for the first time and the new headgear could just provide the spark required with the handicapper unlikely to relent any time soon.
Iain Jardine and Andrew Mullen can take Thirsk’s 3.40 on Friday with PARISIAC and while the same pair combine with Paddy The Squire at 4.13, I reckon Tim Easterby’s FINANCER could benefit from stronger handling (Duran Fentiman) after being ridden by two amateurs and an apprentice in his last three starts.
Sandown and Leopardstown provide the alternatives to Racing League action on Thursday night and the Mick and David Easterby team look to have found an ideal opportunity for last year’s Ayr Bronze Cup winner DILIGENT RESDEV in Sandown’s 7.45.
The four-year-old is 353 at Thursday night’s trip of seven furlongs this season but she could easily have been bumped up a few pounds for that latest third at York and she drops to Class 4 here with the three-year-old Happy Banner to beat.
Leopardstown’s card features Group 3 races at both eight and 12 furlongs and the first of them can go to course and distance maiden winner ALAKAZI which Ben Coen rides ahead of Johnny Murtagh stablemate Chicago Critic.
The last-named ran well enough in a Curragh Group 2 to suggest he’ll appreciate tomorrow night’s drop in class but Alakazi has run well in two Listed races at the Curragh and I reckon he’ll be better going back left-handed in a distinctly average Group 3 at 6.23.
LAYFAYETTE had little more than a canter round under top-weight in a Galway handicap last Friday but it’s back to serious Group 3 business for in-form Noel Meade’s veteran and tomorrow’s Ballyroan Stakes at 6.53 looks well within range.
Jim Goldie sends two horses to Chepstow for Thursday night’s Racing League and both look worthy of support under experienced 3lbs claimer Amie Waugh.
Godolphin cast-off MONTEZUMA can surprise a few at 5.30 with WOOHOO only 2lbs higher than her last Ayr and hopefully set to be loaded last.
DINO BELLAGIO drifted before landing the Sunday daily at 11/1 a month ago and Donald McCain’s runner can don the Sunday best again at Haydock.
The six-year-old’s up 6lbs for that handicap debut win but he looked very well in on bumper form so check the early prices for the 6.45.
Delahunt daily for Thursday August 7
Neoma to win 3.40 Brighton (13/2)
Charlie Johnston’s filly was down the field on soft ground at Yarmouth last time but she wasn’t persevered with at all in that Racing League race and she’s back on her favoured sound surface here.
Neoma had looked a progressive young stayer before that trip to Norfolk but she’s at least been dropped a pound for her troubles and she’s one of two three-year-olds getting 10lbs weight-for-age.
Hat-trick seeking Lexington Knight looks to repeat last year’s win from 4lbs higher but Johnston’s dad Mark won this race twice in the past and Joe Fanning can break his duck on the filly after four seconds.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
