Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Goodwood, Haydock and York on Saturday. View selections below.
SOLE POWER (3.50) encounters the slick underfoot conditions he prefers and looks a solid wager to justify favouritism in the Betfred Temple Stakes at Haydock. The Irish raider mopped up this Group 2 prize in 2011 and was a shade unfortunate not to repeat the feat last year, going down by a neck to market rival Bated Breath after taking a hefty bump at the start. Sole Power underlined his wellbeing by landing the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket three weeks ago, again on quick ground. Fran Berry gets the leg up for the first time and will be under instructions to deliver his mount fast and late as usual.
REDVERS (5.30) doesn’t win too often but performed well in this 7f handicap last year, running on into fifth. His seasonal debut was full of promise, finishing fourth in the Betfred Victoria Cup at Ascot, with top weight King Of Eden well held in arrears.
On a super Saturday of top action, ROMAN FLIGHT (4.00) looks the standout bet at York. David O’Meara consistently waves his magic wand with these handicappers and Roman Flight simply blew away the opposition at Thirsk a fortnight ago. Despite Danny Tudhope taking his foot off the pedal close home, my selection still had six lengths to spare over Reflect (fine second at Haydock on Thursday) and Arizona John, an emphatic Pontefract winner on Tuesday evening. The handicapper has put him up 10lb but even that hefty burden may not anchor Roman Flight.
The biggest week in the training career of Karl and Elaine Burke is looming next Saturday, with Libertarian lining up in the Investec Derby. The stable has been in tremendous form and SUNNYBRIDGE BOY (5.10) can keep up the good work on the Knavesmire, with top amateur Simon Walker booked for the 1m 2f handicap. Sunnybridge Boy finished a narrow runner-up in an apprentices’ event at Pontefract 24 days ago and this rider is worth a few pounds in the saddle.
Rain is forecast in the south and that will be music to the ears of Ray Beckett, who saddles ALBERT BRIDGE (3.05) at Goodwood. His stayer is totally ground dependent and the five-year-old has had only 10 career starts, winning in the mud at Newbury and Ayr. Albert Bridge almost added to that tally when crossing the Irish Sea last November, failing by a neck to land an 18-runner soft ground handicap at Leopardstown.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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