22 to 1 Tom’s Haydock Tips
Race 1 – 1:50
Betfred Passionate About Sport Achilles Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (3yo+) 5f
4 – Live In The Dream – Draw 3
If you want a 1/9 favorite, he’s for you. His first start of the season was in a group 2 at this track, and he ran second by half a length. He ran fourth in the Breeder’s Cup Turf Sprint. He drops in class and has the speed to take them all the way. Overbet favorite?
2 – Democracy Dilemma – Draw 8
Since returning to the races, he has been doing well at the class 2 handicap level. Last time out, he was a half-length behind to run second, drifting a bit at the end. Distance and going are right for another big effort.
5 – Marshman – Draw 5
The last two races were bad in groups 2 and 3 at six furlongs, but his return to the races was in listed races, and he ran second by a neck. That was a drop-in class, too. This is a mixed-bag race because group winners are running, but I must pick someone for third.
Race 2 – 2:25
Betfred ‘Play Fred’s £5 Million’ Handicap Cl2 (4yo+ 0-105) 1m4f.
4 – Divine Grace – Draw 6
She’s run well in her last four races; the first time last out, she ran third in a class 3 race at Goodwood. She won at the class 2 level for fillies and mares. She’s very good at this distance, with five starts, two wins, and three placings. Off the last run, she’s my top choice.
2 – Max Mayhem – Draw 2
It was the first start of the season, and he won before coming off the bench. He finished the season in France, running third in a listed race. He ran most of his races last season at the class 2 handicap level with mixed results. He will make a good account of himself.
1 – Wise Eagle – Draw 4
He returned to the races with an awful race, running eighth. It needed to be more forgettable. He only raced three times last season and was eased in his last start at Ascot in a group 1. His first two starts last year were a winning class 2 and a second a group 3. Let’s see what he does at a price.
Race 3 – 3:00
Betfred Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) (Formerly Known As The Pinnacle Stakes) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m4f
6 – Mistral Star – Draw 1
She needed her last start for all appearances because she showed up with two furlongs to go and then went backward. She was not 100% ready that day, but today, even after going up in class, she will be ready for a big effort.
9 – Queen Of The Pride – Draw 13
She’s only a maiden winner, but at the start of the season in a listed race, she ran a strong second and looked like she wanted more distance. She only lost by three-quarters of a length. She is moved up to a group company but looks like a strong candidate for a group position.
3 – Lady Boba – Draw 8
She has never been out of the money in all her starts, but it took three races to break her maiden. Her final start last year was a win over sixteen other horses in a listed race going ten furlongs. She is coming in off a layoff and will be right on the wire at the end.
Race 4 – 3:35
Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3) Cl1 (4yo+) 7f
4 – Noble Dynasty – Draw 6
She returned from Dubai after a fading run and then won at Newmarket, and she kept on going in that race from an outside draw. He didn’t race in 2023 but did well at the end of the 2022 season. The new rider for the horse is Pat Dobbs because William Buick is riding at Saratoga.
5 – Pogo – Draw 4
He looked good last time, running second on the good to firm in a listed race. This 8-year-old has run 47 times in top company, including the Breeder’s Cup. Was the last race a mirage, or is he ready for a big run? I will bet on that today.
12 – Sirona – Draw 5
Her first start of the season was at Lingfield in a restricted race for fillies and mares, and she ran a good third in her first start for her new trainer at 22-1. This is an aggressive placement, but it may be the right spot for some black type.
Race 5 – 4:10
Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Cl4 (3yo 0-78) 7f.
11 – Kindest Nation – Draw 3
All her starts have been this year (four times), and she started running on the all-weather, including a win at seven furlongs. Her two starts on the turf have been good, and the last one, one mile, was very promising, running third. She drops back to seven furlongs.
9 – Jonny Concrete – Draw 6
A non-winner but ran a nice effort last time out in a novice race, losing by three lengths. Adding the distance versus running six furlongs helped. Seven furlongs is the right distance for the first win, or does she need more distance? I like the last race and think she will run well again.
5 – Commander Of Life – Draw 8
There have been two starts this year, both on the all-weather, and the last out ran on for second, missing by a head. He drops back to seven furlongs after that run at one mile. He’s only placed on the turf, so that’s where I think he will finish.
Race 6 – 4:45
Betfred ‘Join Our Sports Club’ Reverence Handicap Cl3 (4yo+ 0-95) 6f
16 – Buccabay – Draw 4
He’s run two races this season with a second by a neck in his first start and then a mess in his last start, finishing midpack. Returns running at six furlongs and should get a better trip to win.
14 – Secret Guest – Draw 9
His last two races were two third place finishes at six furlongs. He lost second in the last race without the finishing kick. He’s getting bet but has won since February on the all-weather. He’s won on the good to firm going and will finish strongly to get a placing.
5 – Mustajaab – Draw 6
It was an awful race last time out at Ascot, going seven furlongs and winning before on the all-weather at seven furlongs. The difference is one turn versus the straight course. This is a horse who wins or does nothing, and the going may not be ideal, but at this level (he’s dropping in class), he may get the trip and run well enough to do something different and finish in the money. If he wins, then I should have put him on top.
Race 7 – 5:20
Betfred ‘Bet Builder’ Sankey Handicap (Div I) Cl4 (3yo 0-85) 1m
4 – New Chelsea
5 – How’s The Guvnor
2 – Dashing Darcey
Race 8 – 5:52
Betfred ‘Bet Builder’ Sankey Handicap (Div II) Cl4 (3yo 0-85) 1m
4 – Liveandletlive
2 – Christian David
9 – Phone Tag
Rich’s Ranks
Race 1: Betfred Passionate About Sport Achilles Stakes – 8:50 am est
2 – Democracy Dilemma – in good form and the last race was really fast
4 – Live in the Dream – speed of the speed? 2nd up better than the 1st
1 – Commanche Falls – Haydock 4/2-0-1, distance is the question – lone P
3 – Korker – lone closer and a lot of speed to chase down
Race 2: ‘Play Fred’s £5 Million’ Handicap – 9:25 am est
4 – Divina Grace – should be better in 2nd up – distance 4/1-2-1 – speed
5 – Maghlaak – 3rd up, only did it one before – winner – 2 wins with jockey Crowley riding, returns
9 – Melek Alreeh – probably most versatile horse in the field and looks like a new horse in 24
7 – Knightswood – plenty of improvement in his last, return to form
Race 3: Nifty 50 Lester Piggott Fillies’ Stakes – 10:00 am est
6 – Mistral Star – second up and the distance is no problem 2/1-1-0
8 – Night Sparkle – one for one at Haydock and distance 2/0-1-1 – second up
3 – Lady Boba – five solid races to start her career – some versatility
10 – Sapphire Seas – won both second up efforts and has a win at Haydock for tr Charlie Appleby
Race 4: John Of Gaunt Stakes – 10:35 am
9 – Ramazan – unbeaten in a pair at Haydock and distance 6/0-3-2
12 – Sirona – first start of 2024 was sharp, expecting more in round two
11 – Witch Hunter – closer in a field of horses that like to be middle forward
4 – Noble Dynasty – seem to have found his form in 2nd start after more than a year on the sidelines
Race 5: Jack Berry House Handicap – 11:10 am
3 – Bigbertiebassett – disputed the lead late at 1 mile in first up, cut back in distance today is key
4 – Shy Hi Bye – might benefit from more distance in 2nd up
9 – Jonny Concrete – going to make 3rd up start for the 1st time – finally, fully healthy?
10 – Tourist – resume says second start off the sidelines will be better than the first
Race 6: Reverence Handicap – 11:45 am
15 – Radio Goo Goo – one for one at Haydock and winner 3 of 5 at the distance, just 3 in 22 at any other length
8 – Al BArez – on good form – Haydcok 1/0-1-0 and distance works 3/2-1-0
13 – Tough Enough – came off the bench to win the last time he had a similar layoff
3 – Billyjoh – another in good form – been running a long time without some rest, regression coming, when?
