Evening all,

There were 34 non-runners at Haydock on Saturday and only four of them were not going related. Ok the rain didn’t arrive at Haydock. But then we knew that on Thursday as the forecast rain from earlier in the week had dissipated to nothing.

The ground at Haydock had changed from good to firm, good in places to good to firm, firm in places. What I find remarkable is the trainers were happy to declare their horses on such ground but not for a marginal change in the going.

There was no reason why any horses were withdrawn on going grounds on Saturday. Unless of course a horse needed genuinely soft ground and those horses shouldn’t have been declared on Thursday anyway. The whole situation makes a mockery of betting early given the scale of the rule 4’s involved. Those trainers who withdrew their horses will find one day that they haven’t got any races to run them in.

I was away on Saturday so couldn’t see the action live but given the number of non-runners at Haydock it turned out to be no great loss.

Inside today’s main piece I look back at the weekend’s action. Plus, there’s a Monday selection from Perth.

Betfair Sprint Cup

Minzaal gained a well-deserved Group 1 success in the Betfair Sprint Cup.  As predicted, he got a lovely tow into the race. Travelling powerfully on the heels of the leaders. The gaps arrived at the right time and he stormed clear of his rivals for a 3 ¾ length success with last year’s winner Emaraaty Ana holding off Rohaan for second.

Before the race it looked a weak renewal and it turned into a one-horse race. However, Minzaal’s produced a Group 1 level performance in winning on Saturday. Apparently, he broke the 6f track record on Saturday and it was good to see a horse striding out so well on safe flat racing ground.

A 4-year-old hadn’t won the previous ten running’s of the race. However, as I mentioned in Wednesday race preview:

“I wouldn’t be quick to dismiss the 4-year-old’s chances as It’s one of those trends that will surely be broken sooner rather than later”.

I was happy to take on the trend because apart from that Minzaal had plenty in his favour and he turned out to be one and only bet in the race. There are times when you shouldn’t get too hung up on race trends.

Marking Time

Triple Time didn’t have much to beat in the Group 3 Superior Mile after half of the field were non-runner’s including the first two in the betting forecast. However, that shouldn’t distract from what was an impressive success. He tanked through the race which wasn’t surprising as he hadn’t run for a year. Despite his freshness he was still too good for his three rivals. The son of Frankel is back on track and remains a colt with plenty of potential going forward.

I was sweet on the chances of La Yakel in the valuable Lavazza Stakes (Handicap) at Ascot. The handicap debutant was given a confident ride by Adam Farragher. Farragher is jockey well worth his 5lb claim and there’s no reason why he can’t go to the top.

The rain that turned the Ascot ground to good to soft suited the winner. He beat some progressive 3-year-olds on Saturday and there should be more to come from him. I had been sweet on his chances early in the week in this column. I got on him at 11/2 on Friday evening and the market liked him as he was sent off the 100/30 favourite to give trainer William Haggas a third win in the race.

Frankie Handed 14 Day Whip Ban

Besides the Betfair Sprint Cup there was another Group 1 in Europe over the weekend. On Sunday Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Torquator Tasso took on Deutsches Derby winner Sammarco in the Grosser Preis von Baden. However, it was Mendocino who ran out the winner in what turned into a 3f sprint for home.

Mendocino head success from Torquator Tasso, in what was a thrilling finish, was a first Group 1 success for the 4-year-old. Although he had run Alpinista to ¾ length in a Group 1 at Munich last November.

Torquator Tasso’s usual jockey Rene Piechulek was claimed to ride the winner. That left Frankie Dettori to ride him but there was a tough postscript for Frankie who got a 14-day ban for going one over the permitted number of strikes of the whip. Frankie will still be free to ride the colt in next months Arc.

On the face of it a disappointing run by odds on fav Torquator Tasso who went down by a head but I’m not giving up on him just yet. Unlike the winner he didn’t get any cover in what was a modestly run race. That did didn’t suit and if he gets his favoured underfoot conditions and just as importantly an evenly run race he’ll go close in this year’s race.

Monday Racing:

Today’s racing at Galway will be held in sombre circumstances after the death of Henry De Bromhead’s son Jack who fell from his pony at a beach race meeting at Glenbeigh in County Kerry.

Only thirteen he had the whole of his life in front of him.  Any death in the family is a tragedy but no parents should have to bury a child. I can’t imagine what the poor lad’s family are going through. My thoughts and prayers are with the De Bromhead family at this terrible time.

Galway

Malina Girl is in good form finishing runner-up on her last three starts over fences and put in a career best on RPR’s at Wexford last month.  The step up in trip is a plus for the 5-year-old and off just a 2lb higher mark is capable of a first success over the larger obstacles in the 7:15.

Perth

She’s A Rocca gained a second career success over hurdles when coming from behind to win at Southwell in June. Raised 5lb for that win and must prove her stamina for beyond two miles. However, I think she’ll stay and is the pick in the 3:20.

Monday Selection:

Perth

3:20 – She’s a Rocca – 11/4 – Gen.

Good luck with your Monday bets.

John