There is no shortage of racing over the weekend, with quality as well as quantity. I will look at the meetings in alphabetical order, sartrtting at Haydock.
In the 2.05 Indian Trail carries top weight. He won at Sandown last week and Frankie Dettori again has the ride. He is certainly respected. Another with chances is Northern Empire. His 4th at York on his most recent start has been franked with the 3rd horse having won since. Our list to follow is represented by Dig Deep who has already won twice this season, and Blazing Heights. Dig Deep ran well in 3rd at the end of July but has failed to sparkle in his 2 most recent runs. He has come down a few pounds and also has useful 3 lbs claimer Liam Jones on board. Blazing Heights has ability but doesn’t win very often. He is capable of going close off his current mark but he does tend to run into traffic problems.
Caldra won 4 times as a juvenile but then suffered a bad injury. His comeback run 23 days ago was encouraging and if he can impove on that in the 2.35 at Haydock he would be interesting. On the downside though the likely quick ground seems a negative. Smart Enough is another that made a belated reappearance recently. He also showed good form last season but was beaten a long way in his return to the track at York.
Sakhee’s Secret has a perfect record this season of 4 wins from 4 starts and could hardly have been more impressive. He is very much the one to beat in the 3.10. The other 3 runners from our list to follow are Al Qasi, Advanced and Amadeus Wolf. Al Qasi is unlikely to take part on ground that will be too quick for him. Amadeus Wolf has lost his way a little since starting the season in fine style in the Duke of York Stakes in May. He was 3rd in this race last year though and his stable is in good form. Advanced, from the same stable as Amadeus Wolf was 2nd in a listed race at York last time out but has a bit to find with the best of these. Red Clubs and Balthazar’s Gift look each way alternatives to Sakhee’s Secret.
In the Old Borough Cup at 3.40 Record Breaker looks interesting for the stable that won the race last season with Peppertree Lane. He has won 3 of his 6 races this season and may well benefit from tackling this longer trip. He has won on good to firm and has Liam Jones in the plate. Sagredo was 3rd to Bauer at Chester last week and should be in the shake up as he is quite lightly raced and may have scope for further improvement. Misty Dancer is the other one I like in this.
Mark Johnston may have the answer to the 5.15. Five A Side was 2nd at Ripon last month and the winner that day has gone in again.
Turning our attention to Kempton there is a tricky looking 12 furlong Group 3 race at 2.50. Al Tharib won at Kempton last time out and is a horse with plenty of ability. He is related to Coshocton who broke his leg in the 2002 Epsom Derby. Lion Sands has been a bit disappointing since winning a maiden at Haydock.
Magic Mountain has been on e of the least successful horses on my list to follow with 8 straight defeats. During the course of the season so far he has dropped 16 lbs in the weight but even so he would need to show more sparkle that he has done of late to figure in the 5.30.
There are 2 runners from our list to follow in the 2.10 at Leopardstown and both could be fancied on their best from. Regime won the Sandown Classic Trial earlier in the season and also ran well when just going down to Harland at Maison Laffitte. He was not disgraced when 5th at Deauville last time and comes into the reckoning here. Hearthstead Maison has been a terrific horse to have on my list to follow this season as eh ahs won at 9/1 and 25/1. He is yet to win outside of handicap company though.
Red Evie is going for back to back wins in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at 2.40. She comes here in good nick having won the Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last month. Arch Swing has not enjoyed the best of luck since finishing 2nd in the 1,000 Guineas. She deserves to win a big race. The 3rd runner from our list to follow is Evening Time who is stepping up from sprint distances. The main danger to our trio may be the admirable 8 times winner Echelon who comes here on the back of a win in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Red Evie has a telling finish and her jockey rides her to perfection. I think she will win this.
Dylan Thomas, with Kieren Fallon in the saddle looks the likely winner of the Champion Stakes at 3.50. His form stands up to the closest inspection and he ran well last time against Authorized where the Peter Chapple-Hyam horse got first run on him. Dual classic winning filly Finsceal Beo is an interesting contender.
Turning to Sunday’s racing Grey Boy runs from our list to follow in the 3.25. He is well handicapped on last season’s efforts but has shown very littlee this season apart from a decent 3rd in the greys only race at Newmarket on the run before last.
Good luck.
ahorse 