Hi all,
There’s Grade 1 action on ITV Racing on Saturday afternoon. Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on the Haydock action.
Horse Racing Stumbles From One PR Disaster to Another
After a poor public gallop at Newbury earlier this week, news broke on Friday that Constitution Hill is lame and unlikely to run in next weekend’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle. If you missed it, you can watch the gallop here.
Watching the gallop, it wasn’t just a case of stablemate Sir Gino being fitter – there appeared to be something else wrong with Constitution Hill.
Unibet, who sponsor the Henderson yard, were one of only two bookmakers still accepting bets for the Fighting Fifth, despite the horse being unlikely to run. I believe bookmakers sponsoring jockeys and trainers should be banned – the optics are poor, and this situation only highlights that.
This week has been a string of PR disasters for horse racing. Figures like Henderson and the sports media cheerleaders seem oblivious to the fact that people no longer need horse racing for their betting fix. With horse racing betting turnover on the decline, especially among younger punters, it’s clear that many are distancing themselves from the sport.
Saturday Racing
Haydock’s Grade 1 Betfair Chase (3.05) is Saturday’s feature race, with Grey Dawning hopefully making his seasonal debut in this contest. He faces eight rivals, including last year’s winner Royale Pagaille.
In addition to the Betfair Chase, the Haydock undercard also includes the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (2:30), offering £100,000 in guaranteed prize money. Easy Cheltenham winner Doyen Quest faces 15 rivals as he bids to follow up last Saturday’s success.
On Friday lunchtime, the going at Haydock was good to soft, good in places. However, with 15mm of rain forecast on Saturday, conditions will likely ease if the rain arrives as expected.
Down at Ascot, the card also features two Grade 2 contests. The feature handicap is the Lay & Wheeler Hurst Park Handicap Chase (3:20) which has £52,030 on offer to the winner.
As of Friday lunchtime, Ascot’s going was described as good. It looked on the quick side of good before Friday’s races, but the rain due later may soften conditions for Saturday.
Across the Irish Sea, Punchestown hosts the first of two days of top-class Grade 1 action. The going is yielding with up to 30mm of rain forecast on Saturday morning.
The Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (2.10) sees State Man bid for a hat trick of wins in the race. He faces challenges from stablemate Lossiemouth and second season hurdler Brighterdaysahead.
ITV Racing will cover nine races live on Saturday: five from Haydock, three from Ascot, and the Morgiana Hurdle from Punchestown.
Here’s a condensed version of my preview of the five ITV races at Haydock, shared with subscribers on Friday.
Haydock
1:15 – Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 2m 3f
Kamsinas: A Grade 2 novice hurdle winner here last season, found plenty for pressure when winning a handicap at Aintree last month. Up 5lb but capable of further improvement.
Bowenspark: Talented but quirky, he was 3¼ lengths behind Kamsinas at Aintree. First-time visor could bring improvement, making him an each-way player.
Steel Ally: Progressive last season, he was runner-up in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last month. The step up in trip should suit.
1:50 – Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase (Class 2) – 2m 5 ½ f
Iroko: A Grade 1 runner-up over fences last season, he drops in class here and is the one to beat.
Tahmuras: Represents Paul Nicholls, who has a strong record in this race. He’ll relish any forecast rain.
Hillcrest: Off 981 days and making his chase debut. His potential makes him fascinating, but it’s a watching brief for now.
2:30 – Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 3m ½ f
Doyen Quest: A dominant winner at Cheltenham last week, he’s nicely treated under a 5lb penalty. Soft ground could test his stamina, so he’s worth opposing at short odds.
Catch Him Derry: Continued his improvement with a seasonal reapperance win at Newton Abbot. Stamina test will suit, and he’s progressing rapidly.
Kerryhill: Lightly raced but already a Grade 2 winner. Has potential to improve but faces a stiff test on soft ground after an eight-month break.
Phantomofthepoints: Unproven over this trip but comes from the in-form David Pipe yard who win this race in 2020 and well-treated if staying three miles.
Push The Button: Returned from an 11-month break, finishing a staying-on 5th of 13 at Cheltenham on handicap debut last month. The step up to three miles should suit the lightly raced 5-year-old, who handles soft ground well. Each-way claims.
3:05 – Betfair Chase (Grade 1) – 3m ½ f
Grey Dawning: Last season’s standout British trained novice chaser. If he’s a genuine Gold Cup contender, he’ll confirm that here.
Royale Pagaille: Won this race last year on seasonal return and thrives at Haydock. Rain boosts his chances significantly.
Bravemansgame: First-time blinkers are applied which make him interesting given trainer Paul Nicholls record with the use of the first-time headgear with the likes of Silvianaco Conti and Clan des Obeaux. Stamina remains a concern on soft ground.
Ahoy Senor. Not the most reliable of chasers, and his jumping often lets him down, but he goes well left handed and Haydock should suit. He can win but he's not for me.
I had a sneaky fancy for recent Charlie Hall Chase winner The Real Whacker but not on soft ground.
3:40 – Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 3m 1 ½ f
Credo: Last year’s runner-up, now off 2lb lower. A repeat of that run would see her go close.
Take Your Time: Won first time out last season and his form figures over fences are 11PP1. Up 4lb but looks a contender.
Dare To Shout: Unexposed after just two chase starts. He has stamina for this trip and potential for better. Hititi: A useful staying hurdler last season, returned to fences with a solid 2nd at Chepstow 25 days ago. First-time cheekpieces helped last time, and he’s well-treated on hurdles form.
Final Haydock Thoughts
With rain expected, stamina and adaptability will shape the race outcomes at Haydock. Grey Dawning could go off a value price in the Betfair Chase, while Catch Him Derry and Push The Button could offer value against the favourite in the earlier feature handicap hurdle. It’s set to be a thrilling day of Grade 1 action at Haydock.
If I get a chance, I’ll do a preview of Sunday’s Punchestown card. If not, I’ll be back Monday to look back at a weekend of Grade 1 action.
Good luck with your Saturday bets,
John