Thursday 1 September 2016 14:36, UK
The 32Red Sprint Cup is the feature race at Haydock on Saturday and we're double-handed.
Donjuan Triumphant is in great form at home right now and working well. It was a good run to finish second in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time. He'd only just really started coming to himself two weeks before that race and is right on his A-game now. Any rain would help.
I thought Mr Lupton ran well at Beverley last Saturday when not beaten far from an average draw in the Bullet. He needs to step up on what he's shown so far to win at this level but going back up to six furlongs and any cut in the ground will definitely help.
We're also double-handed in the opening EBF Breeders' Series 32RedSport.com Fillies' Handicap and similar comments apply to both Miss Van Gogh and Imshivalla. They've had good seasons last year and are as high as you'd want them to be in the handicap. This looks very competitive but any rain is again in our favour.
Gabrial is what he is - he's a remarkable horse who is has been in tremendous form all year. On his very best form he'd have a big shout in the 32Red Mile.
We've four in the 32Red Casino Handicap but I do fear all are vulnerable to any progressive and less exposed types in there.
Suegioo has been competing at the very highest level this year and drops in grade here although whether he's up to winning a race like this off a mark of 105 we'll have to see.
Angel Gabrial is as high as he'd want to be in the ratings and isn't getting any younger for all he's in good order at home. Gabrial's Star would have a small chance on his very best form and ran ok at Chester last time while Gabrial The Hero is another with a squeak if he runs to his very best.
Powerallied has had a good season but inevitably that means the handicapper has had his say. He's definitely a better horse at Chester but the 32Red Be Friendly Handicap looks a decent fit for him and we'll give it a go.
Heaven's Guest loves Ascot but I've been saying all year he's a badly handicapped horse. The assessor still doesn't agree so I hope he's right as there's a good pot on offer for the Albert Bartlett Handicap but we'll need a lifetime best to win it.
David's Duchess runs in the closing Redcentric Handicap. She's had a busy time of it so we've given her a little break and it's definitely worth dropping back to five furlongs as she has plenty of speed. She could run well.
We introduce Areen Heart in the opening Longines Irish Champions Weekend EBF Maiden Stakes at Thirsk. He's quite a nice horse but typical of a breeze-up buy has been quite keen at home. That's the worry here because he needs to settle but if he does he'll run a big race.
Reinstorm was very disappointing in his first handicap at Wolverhampton and needs to shape up and step up in the Market Cross Jewellers Nursery.
Royal Connoisseur is what he is - there are no secrets with him - and rain would help in division two of the Barkers Of Northallerton Handicap.
Our final four runners are on the evening card at Wolverhampton.
Frap is in very good form at home right now and on a going day would have a real chance in the FCL Global Forwarding Making Logistics Personal Apprentice Handicap.
We've been a little disappointed with Whigham who on her early work we thought would definitely win races. We've freshened her up and hopefully she'll run well in the Bet On Slovakia Vs England With Ladbrokes Nursery.
On ratings Bahamian Sunrise can't win the FCL Global Forwarding Making Logistics Personal Claiming Stakes but we have nowhere else to go with him and have to run here.
Finally Cheerful Character runs in the FCL Global Forwarding British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes. She's inclined to hang badly to her left and we have to run her around a bend on a left-handed track like this. She takes a bit of managing but is quite a nice filly who will win races.
