Sunday's Meetings Leicester Flat 7 Races 1:50-4:52p.m. Windsor Flat 6 Races 2:10-4:40p.m. Downpatrick N/H 7 Races 2:30-5:30p.m. Haydock(E) Flat 7 Races 3:45-6:45p.m. Racecards At The Races Sporting Life Racing Post Good Luck
In the Class-4 Handicap over the extended 1m2f at Haydock (17:15), course specialist Miramichi could well be a sporting wager. The grey gelding by Markaz out of a Tiger Hill mare, ran 15-days ago in a Class-2 event at Newmarket, in which he had little chance, but even then did not finish last. The return to this Class-4 Handicap is more his cup-of-tea. An open race indeed, but given his liking for Haydock, has a squeak. Good apprentice, Pierre-Louis Jamin (3), rides for the Tom Dascombe yard. 8/1 best price at time of writing, available in 4-places. E/W probably best option at this price.
The big race today is not on these shores but over at Deauville; the Prix Maurice de Gheest. A cursory inspection of the card suggests that the prize money will be coming back this side of the Channel as the home team simply does not look up to it. No doubt that the key form race is the July Cup, where Naval Crown chased home Alcohol Free with Aussie raider Artorius third, yet again coming with his run from the back too late. At least today he has an extra half a furlong to get going! Favourite Perfect Power ran a poor race that day having missed the kick and then finding traffic trouble whilst Japanese raider King Hermes was run off his feet and it is puzzling to see his team sticking with sprinting when at home he is a miler. Dual Wokingham winner Rohaan ran respectably in the Hackwood last time but he is out of his depth here and the winner that day Minzaal has to have a live chance. Clive Cox’s Harry Three won the Listed Prix Kistena over six at this track last time following winning a York handicap easily so he enters calculations as an improving three year old; however, after reading Richard Fahey’s SportingLife.com column I am going to rely on Christophe Soumillon to add another Group 1 to PERFECT POWER’s résumé. In the latest Sky Bet Sunday Series meeting at Haydock there are plenty of open competitive races to get stuck into for ITV4 viewers. There are a couple that might be of interest in the earlier races but I will probably wait until the penultimate contest to get involved. The steamer in the Fillies’ Handicap (6:15) is Richard Fahey’s Ana Gold, suffering from a spell of seconditis lately (occupied that spot in three consecutive 7 runner races), failing to catch Point Lynas last time at Redcar; and Fahey is not disparaging in his column. Getting weight all round the three year old is a live contender. Fellow three year old Rose Barton made all at Windsor last time and will probably try to repeat that feat but she has effectively gone up 8lb because she was ridden by a 5lb claimer that day. The two market leaders are the clear interest here. Queen Aminatu comes from the all-conquering Haggas barn and was beaten over a furlong shorter here in a blanket finish when seeking a hat-trick and was then probably out of her depth in a Listed race at Sandown. The one that I am going for is TARRABB, having only her fifth career start from Owen Burrows yard and comfortable winner of a decent Ascot handicap last time out, for which she has only been raised 4lb.
Will not be following Perfect Power anymore – ran the same as at Newmarket. Fair play to Highfield Princess beating Minzaal having previously been sixth in the Platinum Jubilee (but Naval Crown won that race). So it looks like the sprinting division is much of a muchness this year (again).
