Haydock Park hosts the Premier Raceday in the UK on Saturday afternoon. Racegoers can look forward to a competitive eight race card featuring two Group 3’s and a listed contest. The track is running fast, officially: good to firm ground.
Haydock Park – track is running fast, officially: good to firm ground. (Pic – Haydock Park on Facebook)
Live In The Dream should start the day off in a positive fashion for trainer Adam West in opener, the Listed Betfred Passionate About Sport Achilles Stakes (14h50).
The five-year-old is the sole Group 1 winner in a field of eight after landing the Nunthorpe at York last season on similar ground.
He returned to action in the Gr2 Temple Stakes at Haydock last month, running a fine race to go down by only half a length to the race fit Kerdos on soft ground.
The Prince Of Lir gelding returns a fortnight later over the same trip at Listed level and looks the one they all have to beat.
The first of the Gr3’s is the Betfred Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (16h00), run over a mile and a half. Fourteen fillies and mares compete in what looks an open contest. Miss Cantik and Sea Theme are the 5/1 joint favourites.
Both are considered, but Miss Cantik would prefer a bit of cut in the ground, whilst Sea Theme was most disappointing on her last start at Newmarket last September.
Kevin Stott retains the ride on Night Sparkle for Andrew Balding, and this mare who usually races prominently will enjoy the fast ground. She was slightly unlucky last month on her seasonal return when beaten three-quarters of a length in a Group 3 at York. She is selected to score from the Charlie Appleby trained Sapphire Seas.
The Godolphin filly ran a fair race when finishing fourth in the Gr2 Middleton at York in May. Pat Dobbs takes the ride, and this course winner should be involved in the finish.
The Gr3 Betfred John of Gaunt Stakes (16h35) sees 12 runners jump off from the seven-furlong start. Charlie Appleby and Pat Dobbs could follow up with the six-year-old Noble Dynasty who won a good race at Newmarket last month off top weight.
He beat the well-regarded English Oak easily by two lengths and the runner-up confirmed that form here at the end of May.
Witch Hunter represents the in-form combo of Richard Hannon and Sean Levey. Officially the highest-rated runner here, he is another to consider along with course and distance winner Pogo.
