Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Haydock Park and Goodwood on Saturday.
CHIEF WHIP (3.05) wins the vote to land a fiercely competitive renewal of Haydock’s Silver Bowl Stakes.
Richard Hannon’s son of Giant’s Causeway, sporting the Coolmore silks, ran out of his skin in a big York handicap 10 days ago, splitting Castle Harbour and Monteverdi, and this extra furlong looks sure to suit.
Chief Whip, winner of a seven-furlong Sandown maiden and third on his seasonal reappearance in the bet365 Esher Cup at the same course, has a lovely pitch in stall four and can take the measure of market rival Predilection, an impressive Kempton scorer in the Khalid Abdullah colours.
MECCA’S ANGEL (4.10) will need a drop of rain before being confirmed a definite starter in the Temple Stakes but she was electric when winning the Nunthorpe at York when last seen on a racetrack.
Michael Dods’ mare is a course winner and has drawn a middle berth in stall seven. Importantly, she escapes a Group 1 penalty for that York triumph and her sex allowance is always an advantage.
Profitable could also do with a drop of rain and the Clive Cox stable is in cracking form. Muthmir, twice defeated by penalised Goldream last season, at Ascot and Longchamp, is the alternative pick if the ground comes up rattling quick.
Al Basti Equiworld are principal sponsors at Goodwood and Arab-owned horses will be worth careful consideration, none more so than HAALICK (3.25). Roger Varian’s top weight endured a nightmare passage in the valuable one-mile Conditions race at Lingfield in March, running on strongly into third behind Sea Of Flames and Race Day.
Haalick likes to weave his way through from off a strong pace and such daring tactics always require a stroke of good fortune at Goodwood. He deserves a change of luck after Lingfield. Sir Michael Stoute’s Arab Poet is pretty unexposed and looks a live threat.
MOUNT LOGAN (2.50) can kick-start Varian’s day by justifying probable favouritism in the 1m 4f Listed contest. The five-year-old was successful at Glorious Goodwood when trained by Luca Cumani, slamming Elhaame over 10 furlongs.
Mount Logan ran into a good ‘un at Sandown in the shape of Exosphere, with the 17lb weight concession to Sir Michael Stoute’s three-year-old proving just too onerous. He also filled the places in two valuable handicaps, at York and Ascot, last summer.
Varian has another useful string to his bow in the 1m 6f handicap courtesy of lightly-raced MONOTYPE (4.35). The gelding was well backed when landing a Doncaster maiden in June but wasn’t seen again after finishing last of five to Mr Singh in the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket. Something was clearly amiss that day and Monotype can begin making up for lost time off an attractive handicap mark.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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