The rain forecast to hit the north west failed to
materialise on Monday but there are showers – possibly thundery – forecast for
Tuesday which may alter the going for Tuesday's Haydock card which was
described as good at noon on Monday.
In the opening 10f handicap Will Sommers is likely to be all
the rage having finished fourth on his reappearance when he refused to settle
for Andrea Atzeni here back in June. He has had a wind operation since that run
and looks to have been given a potentially lenient opening mark.
The each way vote, however, goes to Camahawk (1.25)
who failed to get home over an additional couple of furlongs at Thirsk last
time and has been dropped a couple of pounds for that effort. Tim Easterby has
his string in good form and the selection is well drawn in stall four. The
selection is 11s at William Hill who are betting five places on the race.
Legend Of Dubai (2.55) steps up to a mile having ran
a good race on debut when third at Newbury over 7f last month. The selection is
the first foal of Group 1 winner Speedy Boarding and cost 500,000 gns as a
yearling. Roger Varian's stable continue in excellent form and the newcomers
will have to be smart to lower his colours.
Charlie Appleby's Branwell is bred to be useful and it will
be interesting to see if the market speaks in his favour.
Ottonian (5.30) was unbeaten in two starts for
Charlie Appleby and ran a very promising race returning from a 1157 day lay-off
when fourth at York over two miles for Donald McCain. Both wins were gained
with plenty of cut in the ground and any further rain would be a plus for this
son of Dubawi.
Owen Burrows had a double at Salisbury on Sunday, and I hope
his good run continues at Wolverhampton courtesy of Thumur (3.40) who
steps up to 12f on his handicap debut. The selection is by Golden Horn and,
after just the three starts, remains open to significant progress although he
is drawn out widest of all in stall seven. Several of the big Newmarket yards
are represented with unexposed three-year-olds and Sir Michael Stoute fits
Vindicate with a first-time visor – he looks a big threat with Ryan Moore in
the saddle for Her Majesty The Queen.
At Perth this evening Dr Richard Newland has a couple of
good chances including with Somethingaboutangela in the 3m Novices' handicap
Chase but I have long thought there were races to be won with Western Aussie
(5.05) and he can make a winning chase debut for Martin Todhunter.
The selection has run well fresh in the past and was only
beaten a length in the second of two Irish points and the yard had a welcome
winner at Cartmel last month. The form of his fourth at Wetherby over hurdles
over Christmas suggests he could be well treated from his current mark although
he did shift slightly left at his hurdles on that occasion and today's
right-hand track may be less than ideal.
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