1:15 Haydock
The first race from Haydock is a tricky mile handicap.
The one for me is CANDONOMORE (8/1) EW, who comes into this race in career-best form and is thriving at the start of this 2025 campaign. A winner on both his starts, he again gets ideal conditions in an attempt to complete the hat-trick. This is a deeper race, but with Amie Waugh’s 3lb claim taken into consideration, he’s effectively running off 8’5, which is an absolute featherweight. He’s a lively each-way player in his current mood.
1:30 Goodwood
We head to Goodwood next for a competitive 7f handicap.
A very tricky race, it’s MR CHAPLIN (8/1) EW for me, who has stall 1 and likes to go forward. There is going to be plenty of hard luck stories in behind so sitting prominently is a good spot. Mr Chaplin is a previous course and distance winner, and that was last year at Glorious Goodwood is another competitive contest. This demands a career best, but conditions are ideal for him, and there’s no reason he can’t come forward again this season.
1:50 Haydock
Next up is the Silver Bowl Handicap for the 3-year-olds over the mile.
It is KING CASPER (9/2) for me here. He was an impressive winner last time out at Newmarket in April, where he stayed on strongly to win going away at the line. He looked to have really come on from two to three, having shown promise in three starts last season. I think he can follow up here if he remains in the same form. He’ll get quick ground again which helps.
2:10 Beverley
We also head to Beverley, the 2:10 is the Hilary Needle. A race for the 2 year-old fillies over 5f.
It’s hard to get away from the Lily Agnes winner ALI SHUFFLE (9/4) NAP in this. The top 2 year-old trainer Karl Burke sends this unbeaten filly back to Beverley, which we’ve already seen suits her well prior to the Lily Agnes win at Chester. She’s all speed and is clearly thriving. I think she can go in again.
2:25 Haydock
The 2:25 from Haydock is the listed Hedge Of Oaks Stakes. A 1m2f race for the fillies.
I like FRANCOPHONE (10/1) EW in this. She was a promising three-year-old last season, including two victories and a fine fourth-place effort to finish the season at Group 3 level. The daughter of Frankel looks set to improve with age, and her comeback run was pleasing enough when finishing fourth at listed level. She can build on that now and go close with fitness on her side.
2:45 Beverley
It’s back to Beverley for a 2 year-old contest over Beverley’s speedy 5f trip.
It’s OLD IS GOLD (2/1) for me in here. He comes into this with racecourse experience under his belt, having finished third on debut. That form is working out well with the winner since going in again. That was at Ascot, and he just got tired late on. This track may well suit him more, and hopefully, he can put that experience to good use and improve again. The stable’s horses often do come forward a chunk for their debuts.
3:00 Haydock
The Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes is up next, a 6f contest for 3-year-olds.
I’d be happy to chance the totally unexposed POWERFUL GLORY (11/2) EW in this for the Richard Fahey yard. Pitched into this off the back of two runs at 2, this is a big ask, but he was impressive and looked a top sprinter in the making in those two starts. The second victory was in the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes, so he must have been showing a lot of promise. The stable can ready them first time out and they’ve won this race before so they know what it takes. I think he’s a lively player.
3:15 Goodwood
The 3:15 from Goodwood is the listed Height of Fashion Stakes over 1m2f for fillies.
I just get the impression RHAPSODY (4/1) is a really good filly, and I’m happy to just draw a line through her last effort at Kempto,n where things just didn’t go to plan. She was keen, they went slow, and they finished in a bunch. Before that, she was a debut winner at Yarmouth and looked really promising. Anything from the Haggas yard that wins on debut is usually top notch and it has to be noted that he’s pitching her in this race on her third career start.
3:30 Haydock
The 3:30 is the Group 2 Temple Stakes for the sprinters over 5f.
I’d be given TWILIGHT CALLS (20/1) EW another chance here after finishing 5th behind a few of these last time out. He did look in need of the run that day, and with that now under his belt and conditions remaining in his favour, he’s the one for me. He has the best form of these by a long way, proper Group 1 form and if he’s anyone near that level, he’ll be winning this.
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