Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Saturday; Future Investment in the Haydock 14:50 and Kipps 15:05 at Ascot. Compare odds and bet.
The most interesting race for me on Saturday is the opening novices’ hurdle from Stratford, where One True King and Shantou Express go head-to-head on debut. Both should do well over hurdles and are smart recruits for the time of year, so it will be fascinating to see how they fare.
In terms of the day’s selections, we kick off at Haydock in the ultra-competitive Old Borough Cup over 1m6f. The top end of the market looks quite strong here, with Cape Coast winning with a bit to spare at Newmarket last time, and if the ground is soft, Newbury winner Rhythmic Intent is another who warrants considerable respect. However, preference is for Future Investment (2:50) who ran well in defeat on his first two starts of the season (when put up in this column) before winning comfortably over 2m at Chester last time.
Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old is another who appreciates easy ground, and dropping back by a couple of furlongs shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience, especially if they go a strong gallop. He looks capable of landing a valuable prize at some stage and conditions should be in his favour here, so he is worthy of each-way support.
Of those at bigger odds (available at 16-1 at the time of writing) I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Saglawy go well on his debut for the Paul Nicholls stable. A winner at Listowel a year ago, he was then sent off favourite for the Irish Cesarewitch, where he was ridden a shade too positively. He shaped well over hurdles behind Burrows Saint on New Year’s Eve, and if ridden with a shade more restraint, I could see him going well under Kevin Stott before he goes back over hurdles.
Down at Ascot, the Hughie Morrison-trained Kipps (3:05) looks worth another chance, in the Lavazza Handicap.
He ran a sound race when runner-up over course-and-distance in the King George V Stakes, when just collared late on by Hukum, who franked the form by winning the Geoffrey Freer Stakes last month. Since then, he was kept wide when only fourth over 10 furlongs at Newmarket, before finishing third in Melrose Stakes at York. Coming back to 1m4f on easy ground could be just about ideal, and he should go close in the first-time cheek-pieces. He is another who can be backed each-way.
Saturday’s selections:
2:50 Haydock – Future Investment; 10/1 Paddy Power
3:05 Ascot – Kipps; 9/2 Bet365
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