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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Greg Wood

Talking Horses: Fairmac can keep Curtis on course for six-figure bonus

The racegoers had to shelter from the heavy rain at Haydock on Saturday.
The racegoers had to shelter from the heavy rain at Haydock on Saturday. Photograph: David Davies/PA

Tommy G is the last horse standing with a chance of picking up the £100,000 bonus for winning at all three Sunday Series fixtures after Rising Star was scratched from the fillies’ handicap at Haydock Park on Sunday due to the rain-softened ground.

He should remain competitive off a 5lb higher mark but faces a stern opponent in Fairmac (6.15), whose jockey, Ben Curtis, is also chasing a six-figure bonus. Curtis rode two winners at the first fixture two weeks ago and Mark Johnston’s grey can keep him in with a chance to bank £100,000 for riding seven winners at the Sunday Series fixtures.

Haydock Park 3.55 Boudica Bay has returned to form in no uncertain fashion in recent weeks with two wins on quick going, but Eric Alston’s mare also has form with some cut in the ground and a success last summer off Sunday’s mark of 62. In a competitive heat, that tips the balance in her favour at around 6-1.

Haydock Park 4.25 Ghathanfar was a close third in a well-run race at York last time and the first two home – Capote’s Dream and Mr Wagyu - have both franked the form with subsequent wins. He also ran well on soft ground at Pontefract earlier in the season.

Wolverhampton 1.00 Tommytwohoots 1.35 Sucellus 2.10 Mushirif 2.45 Arthur's Victory 3.20 Tyson 3.55 Secret Handsheikh

Ayr 1.50 Glorious Rio 2.25 Muroor 3.00 Platinumcard (nap) 3.35 Amouge 4.05 Motawaazy 4.35 Corndavon Lad (nb)

Windsor 5.05 Glamorous Crescent 5.35 Thaki 6.05 Daiquiri Francais 6.35 Strike Me A Pose 7.05 Yankee Stadium 7.35 Tregony 8.05 Vive La Danse

Ripon 5.55 Proclivity 6.25 Bungley 6.55 Carrigillihy 7.25 Cuban Dancer 7.55 Digital 8.25 Come On Linda

Haydock Park 4.50 No form to work with as all 11 runners are making their racecourse debut. Rainbow Colours is a tentative choice to further improve Mark Johnston’s impressive 15pc strike-rate with unraced juveniles since 2016.

Haydock Park 5.20 Bastogne made a solid start to his handicapping career off a mark of 81 when third in a valuable nursery at Glorious Goodwood, beating eight opponents who went into the race on the back of a win. Any improvement will make him a big player off a 2lb higher mark.

Wolverhampton 1.00 Global Art 1.30 Eikonix 2.05 Qaaraat 2.40 Nagasaki Dream 3.15 Trinity Girl 3.50 Dew You Believe

Nottingham 1.55 Dayem 2.25 Typewriter 3.00 Yagood (nb) 3.35 Dubai Station 4.10 Bellevarde (nap) 4.45 Rebel Redemption 5.20 Intercessor

Lingfield Park 5.05 Knight Of Kings 5.35 Savitar 6.05 Angel Amadea 6.35 Flame Of Freedom 7.05 Al Tarmaah 7.35 Aye Catcher 8.05 Vandad

Chelmsford City 6.20 Benzema (nb) 6.50 Porfin 7.20 Nibras Shadow 7.50 Sunrise Valley 8.20 Midfield 8.50 Tarseekh

Haydock Park 5.45 A wide-open heat where it could pay to take a chance on Heavenly Rose at a double-figure price. Marco Botti’s filly remains a maiden after six starts but put up her best performance to date when second at Lingfield last time out in a solid time, and top-notch claimer Laura Pearson takes off a valuable 3lb.

Haydock Park 6.40 Ghadbbaan has been impressively consistent in recent weeks and is proven at this trip, whereas likely favourite Noonday Gun – a son of the 1,000 Guineas winner, Sky Lantern – is stepping up to two miles for the first time. Brian Ellison’s gelding could also have an easy time of it in front.

Yarmouth 1.00 Tilsworth Rose 1.30 Altraif 2.05 Bashful 2.40 Yankee Stadium 3.15 Twilight Song 3.50 Rockesbury 4.25 Flibbertigibbet

Beverley 1.45 Vieux Carre 2.15 Ayling 2.50 Baikal 3.25 Klopp Of The Kop (nb) 4.00 Proud Archi 4.35 Kingson 5.05 Riches And Rubies 5.40 Burscough

Salisbury 1.55 Poet 2.30 Flying Secret 3.05 Nefarious 3.40 Sevenal 4.15 Freyja  4.50 Dartington 5.25 Bolly Bullet

Ffos Las 5.15 Lower Street 5.45 Mystical Music 6.15 Keep Right On 6.45 Hesperis

7.15 Shuthoor

7.45 Power Station

8.15 Yanifer

Kempton Park

 

5.50 Pretty Green

6.25 Tinderbox

6.55 Camerata

7.25 Riknnah

7.55 Zhang Fei (nap)

8.25 Heath Rise

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