1:48 Haydock
The opener from Haydock on ITV is a handicap over 6f.
The horse I like is FINE INTERVIEW (4/1). A progressive 3 year-old handicapper last season, he made a really encouraging reappearance effort when finishing third in a competitive handicap at Doncaster. That run can bring him on and a mark of 91 looks well within reach. Any rain that falls will certainly be a positive.
2:10 Chester
We have one live race from the Roudee, the 2:10, which is a 7f handicap.
There was plenty of promise in TELEMARK’s (11/2) run last time out and he’s the one I’ve landed on in this competitive affair. He was unlucky when last seen at Newcastle, where he was finishing fast before being stuck in a pocket close to home. The winner was away and gone but he’d have certainly hit the frame if things went his way. He returns to turf, which isn’t a problem, and he’s a previous winner at Chester, which is an obvious plus. Stall 4 looks ideal as a lot of his market rivals are out wide. Hopefully, Jack Mitchell can bag the rail just off the pace and come with his run in the home straight.
2:23 Haydock
The 2:23 from Haydock is up next. It is the listed Achilles Stakes over 5f.
I’d be happy to play JASOUR (10/3) NAP on his first run back. He was ultra competitive on seasonal return last year when bolting up at Group 3 level down at Ascot. Things didn’t quite go to plan after that but he was running in Group 1 races. He has plenty of ability but just needs to learn to settle. Hopefully, now being a year old and fresh off a wind operation, he can start maturing and show his true potential. He should be better than a listed performer, and he can show that today.
2:40 York
We head to York next for another 5f contest, this time it is a handicap.
I think DURAN (11/2) can continue on his upward curve and run a big race here for Nigel Tinkler. A solid 3 year-old last season, he’s returned this year better than ever. Runner-up on his first two starts, the second of those was highly encouraging in a competitive sprint at Ascot where he stayed on strongly. He put that right over course and distance last time out and up 4lb for that victory, it’s hard not to see him going close here at the very least.
2:58 Haydock
The 2:58 is the Pinnacle Stakes, a Group 3 over 1m4f.
I like SHAHA (5/2) NB in this. It was hard not to be impressed by her victory last time out at Goodwood, coming from off the pace to stay on strongly and win going away. She is a Group class horse if she continues to settle, and I think she has the right man for the job with Oisin Murphy up for the ride today. I don’t think she’ll mind what the weather does, and the better race could potentially bring out a better performance in her as they’ll go quicker.
3:15 York
The final race from York is the Bronte Cup Fillies Stakes, a Group 3 race over 1m6f.
I like JANE TEMPLE (10/1) in this for the Gosdens. I was really taken by her victory at Kempton last time out, carrying a big weight against a stablemate who’s no mug. She looks sure to continue improving, and the yard are very good at bringing their fillies along steadily. They wouldn’t pitch her into Group company if they didn’t think she was up to it. The yard are also in great form at present and I like their chances of landing this Group 3 with a filly on a serious upward curve.
3:33 Haydock
The finale on ITV is the Group 3 John Of Gaunt Stakes, run over 7f.
The one for me is AUDIENCE (7/2) . An in-and-out horse, but when things fall right, he’s shown he is a quality horse. 7f is his ideal trip as he likes to get on with things, and there is no stamina queries when he runs over this trip. I think he has a class edge over a lot of his rivals here and he should be able to get his own time out in front. If that is the case, he’s dangerous.
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