Haydock Saturday Preview - 29/05/21

The first race of the day at Haydock on Saturday is the Class 3 handicap over 1m4f and the horse that takes the eye is the Hugo Palmer trained Doubling Dice.

The four year old last season was progressive towards the end of the season, Bolting up over 12f in a Novice Stakes at Hamilton on soft ground and then backing that up over course and distance in September.

Looking to make it a hat-trick of wins he was last seen finishing down the field in the Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket, but that run can be put behind him.

If getting back to the form of his previous wins he looks to have a big chance, especially being unexposed and racing for the first time since his wind op.

Buick rides.

Next up is the Class 3 Handicap over six furlongs and Capote's Dream for trainer Tom Ward looks one of the more likely winners, being extremely progressive this term and still on a nice mark.

The four year old this season joined Ward's yard having been average for Jospeh Murphy in Ireland and on his seasonal/stable debut he got off the mark in fine fashion at Kempton.

Back over the same course and distance he scored again making it back to back wins and when seeking his hat-trick on his British turf debut he was a narrow second at Windsor.

Many though the bubble may have burst but they were wrong as he was seen winning again last time out back at Windsor and only 2lb higher for this event makes him tough to beat.

Needs to handle the soft ground, but he did enough in Ireland in the same conditions to think he will.

The first big race of the day from Haydock is the Listed Achille Stakes and the consistent sprinter El Astronaute looks a lovely price of 5/1 to take the event.

The 5f specialist has seen it all over the years, and event at the age of eight is showing clear enthusiasm for the game when winning last time out on seasonal debut at Chester in a Conditions Stakes.

The gelding has been versatile when it comes to ground throughout his career, winning this event last year on good ground at Doncaster, but then also finishing a good third in 2019 in the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye on very soft at ParisLongchamp.

Seems to be in fine form off the back of his seasonal debut and he should come on for that pipe cleaner, just needs to be as effective on this slower ground.

Big chance at 5/1.

Another feature race on the afternoon is the Group Three Pinnacle Stakes over over 1m4f and Cabaletta for Roger Varian looks a strong favourite.

The grey won her debut as a juvenile back in October 2019 on heavy ground and was then saved for her three year old campaign.

Having showed some decent form at the start of last season, winning over 12f at Newbury in July, she then bumped into Enbihaar in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Over the same course and distance next time out she took on Subjectivist in the Group Three March Stakes and was again a long way second.

After that she dropped in trip for the British Champions Fillies & Mares at Ascot and was outclassed in the Group One event.

She returned this season at York in the Group Two Middleton Fillies' Stakes over 1m2f and was a fair third, looking to need further and overall the run for fitness.

Now dropped into a weaker race and back up in trip, she could be tough to beat if handling the soft ground.

The Group Three John Of Gaunt Stakes over seven furlongs is the best event of the afternoon at the Merseyside track and With Thanks for William Haggas.

This soft ground specialist has been seen five times during his career, winning his only run on debut at Newmarket on heavy ground then in his four runs last season he had figures of 1212.

He made his seasonal debut last term on good ground over 6f at Thirsk and was a good second when getting back to 7f at Catterick on heavy ground next time out, bolting up by close to seven lengths.

The gelding then went to Goodwood for the Listed Fillies' Stakes in October and was a close second behind Group winner Onassis.

The son of Camacho was last seen bolting up in a Group Three at Naas in November over seven furlongs on heavy ground and if running to that form he looks a big player.

There is no better horse in the race that will handle the soft ground like him and anymore that falls will play to his strengths.

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Class 4 Handicap over six furlongs and Sir Maxi for Ralph Beckett looks the value.

The three year old last term was a very consistent individual, landing two nice events, whilst also placing in another two on a mixture of good and soft ground.

Sir Maxi was first seen at Windsor in September finishing a fair second behind an extremely nice type and he then franked that form himself by getting off the mark next time out at Pontefract.

Stepped up to seven furlongs at Lingfield in a Nursery Handicap he made it back to back wins with a smart performance and he was then last seen finishing a narrow second to Conservatoire for William Haggas on his hat-trick bid.

He should handle the softer ground and if fully tuned up looks one of the more likely winners.

The final event of the afternoon is the Class 4 Handicap over seven furlongs and we can't look past the favourite Elvrika, who looks another nice type for William Haggas.

The three year old filly was seen twice last season as a juvenile, finishing second on debut over 6f at Haydock behind stablemate Cloudy Dawn, who has since franked the form, and then placing again when stepping up to 7f at York on soft ground.

This season the filly returned at Thirsk over 7f and got off the mark in taking style and if coming on for that run will be tough to pass.