Katie Midwinter (23/05/24)
HAYDOCK
1:15pm – Silver Bowl Handicap (Heritage Handicap)
Volterra is up to a mark of 91, 9lbs higher for a recent Newmarket success. His form reads well but the ground is a concern on pedigree and the yard has been quiet in recent weeks. The son of Farhh fetched 400,000gns as a yearling, and was impressive in his first start over a mile earlier this month, but must now prove himself on a softer surface.
The progressive Nellie Leylax has course-and-distance form in testing conditions, now running on a career-high mark of 92. There could be plenty more to come from the gelding, but the yard form is of slight concern.
Another progressive type in the field is Blue Lemons who landed a debut success on soft ground at Leicester. He was disappointing in the Horris Hills Stakes on heavy subsequently, but may have had other excuses on that occasion. The form of his third-placed finish to the now 108-rated Bracken’s Laugh has been franked by the winner, and by the second King’s Gambit, who has also won since. A mark of 99 looks workable.
At a big price, Apiarist has the potential to make the frame on the basis of his soft ground York win last term in which he beat the likes of Nellie Leylax and Candonomore, and is one even better terms with the former at the weights here. He may have needed the run on his reappearance at Newmarket, and the step up in trip plus the return to an easier surface should allow him to show improvement.
Selection(s): Blue Lemons 11/2 & Apiarist 20/1 (E/W)
1:50pm – Temple Stakes (Group 2)
Asfoora is a first international runner for Australian trainer Henry Dwyer as the mare makes her British debut ahead of an ambitious summer campaign that could see her head to Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood. A Group Two winner Down Under, the five-year-old has also placed at Group One level and it will be interesting to see how she stacks up against some of the best of the British sprinters. It’s likely she’ll improve for the outing, with bigger targets to come, but she is reported to have settled in well in England and could make a winning start in the Northern Hemisphere.
Clear on ratings and superior on form, Group One winner Live In The Dream makes his seasonal reappearance for Adam West, with usual partner Sean Kirrane in the saddle. He put in a gallant effort to finish fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last year, after enjoying a magical season in which he proved his quality at the top level and gained the adoration of racing fans. He has won on his first outing of the season on two occasions prior, therefore given he is fit and ready for this challenge, he should prove tough to beat.
Charlie Fellowes’ saddles six-year-old mare Vadream who will thrive in the testing conditions on track. Three of her four career wins have been on ground described as soft or heavy and, with conditions to suit, things could go swimmingly well for the six-year-old mare in this Group Two contest.
Beautiful Diamond has little to find with the aforementioned Vadream on the form of the Group Three Palace House Stakes but, although she is a winner on good to soft, Karl Burke’s filly is unproven in testing conditions, and there isn’t much evidence in her pedigree suggesting it will suit.
In contrast, Seven Questions, who beat both Vadream and Beautiful Diamond when last seen, was a winner on soft last term at Ripon, and also finished third in the Mill Reef Stakes on heavy ground, staying on well to beat subsequent Group Three winner and third in the 2000 Guineas, Haatem. He holds each-way claims at a big price for George Scott.
Selection: Vadream 5/1
2:25pm – Sandy Lane Stakes (Group 2)
Vandeek was breathtaking as a juvenile and, given he has progressed well from two to three, there is little reason to oppose him in this field. He lacks a recent run but he won well on debut last year. He’s ground versatile, having won on varying ground conditions including on good to firm as well as on very soft.
A dual Group One winner that is 9lbs clear on ratings, he holds strong claims as he attempts to defy the premature narrative that this may be a disappointing crop of three-year-olds. There is a calling for a star to emerge, and Vandeek could be the one to follow again this season if he is able to continue where he left off in the Middle Park Stakes.
Shamardal colt Inisherin has a novice win to his name but was found wanting when sixth in the Newmarket Classic earlier this month. A drop in trip is an interesting move and one that could see him perform to better effect, but he has plenty to find to match the level shown by the favourite and the yard’s lack of form is a concern.
Unbeaten colt Airman is unexposed as he makes his third career start, and still appears to be learning on the job. He will need to improve plenty to be competitive against a horse of Vandeek’s quality, however he is one to watch with interest.
The ground is an obvious concern for Esquire, who was disappointing on heavy at Doncaster last term, with the ground given as an excuse, therefore it would be surprising if he was able to make the frame in such testing conditions.
Selection: Vandeek 8/11
One to watch: Airman 25/1
3:00pm – Class 3 Handicap
Zip is a soft ground specialist who will thrive in the testing conditions on track at his beloved Haydock. This is his eleventh start at the course, and now back on his last winning mark, the consistent gelding holds strong each-way claims on his desired ground. He is a likable type who will be suited by the trip as well as the going, and should be competitive under Oisin Orr.
Wootton Bassett colt English Oak was a beaten favourite when last seen at Newmarket, but may come on for his first outing of the season as he did last year when winning second time out. He is proven over a mile but placed behind Rohaan over 6f, indicating he has enough speed to be competitive over this trip but has the stamina to stay further too, which will help him if it turns into a test.
Course-and-distance winner Metabolt has been withdrawn on account of heavy ground in the past and finished down the field in his only start on soft. The testing conditions are a huge concern for the five-year-old gelding.
Selection: Zip 4/1
One(s) to watch:
THE CURRAGH
1:20pm – Henri Matisse
The exciting colt makes his debut under Ryan Moore in the opening maiden on the card. His sire, Wootton Bassett, and dam, Immortal Verse, both won first time out, as did his Group One winning half-sister Tenebrism. With plenty to suggest the colt could make a successful start to his racing career, especially considering the 33 percent strike-rate Aidan O’Brien has recorded with his juveniles so far this term, he is one to keep on side.
3:40pm – Rosallion
Second in the Newmarket equivalent, Rosallion attempts to go one better and land the prestigious Classic for trainer Richard Hannon. Suited by the quicker conditions on track, he should prove tough to beat in this field having already shown his superiority over stablemate Haatem, and with stamina doubts over nearest market rival River Tiber, who runs over further than 6f for the first time.
GOODWOOD
1:30pm – The Camden Colt 22/1
The drop in trip should suit this son of Footstepsinthesand who has been performing well over a mile. On a handy mark of 89 with 3lb claimer Alec Voikhansky aboard, the Richard Hannon-trained three-year-old should be good enough to make the frame at an enticing price.
YORK
2:45pm – Starlust 8/1
The Zoustar colt faces a tough task against older opponents, but he receives the weight-for-age allowance and has only 2lbs to find with the highest-rated in the field, Korker. A progressive sprinter, he finished third to Big Evs in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in Santa Anita in his final appearance as a juvenile, before performing respectably in two runs at Meydan. He may have needed the run at Ascot when last seen earlier this month, and should improve plenty for the outing especially considering the form of the yard is much better now, too.
3:20pm – Trevaunance 9/1
The Jessica Harrington-trained mare appears overlooked in this Group Three field considering she is the second highest-rated in the race and is unexposed over the trip. She may have stamina to prove, but she has stayed 1m4f and her half-sister Port Sunlight finished second in a handicap over 1m5f, providing hope that there is stamina in the pedigree. A Group Two winning mare, she has plenty of quality and this step up in trip could reignite the spark.
* prices are correct at the time of publication.
Photo by Philippe Oursel on Unsplash
THE CONDITIONAL 