The horses in Marco Botti’s overflow yard are still being tested for strangles, one of his Dubai runners having returned with that disease, but there is obviously nothing much wrong with the horses in his main yard, the success of Grey Mirage in a £93,000 race on Friday being the latest in a good run for the Newmarket man. His Lady Dutch (2.50) is fancied for Kempton’s Listed contest, which is what passes for a big race on this quiet, pre-Grand National Saturday.
Lady Dutch joined Botti from an Italian yard over the winter, having been second in the 1,000 Guineas there. She was easy to back on her debut for him at Kempton in February but turned over a Richard Hannon-trained favourite and should have more to offer.
2.00 Haydock This might be asking a lot of a 12-year-old at the end of a busy season but Incentivise has been running consistently well when the going has been soft and his stable remains in fine form. Richard Johnson is an interesting booking.
2.15 Kempton Speculative Bid has more to offer but his claim may be trumped by Triple Chocolate, one of the most progressive Flat horses in training. He managed to win on his reappearance run despite the race working out poorly for him and is only 4lb higher. An extra furlong should help.
2.35 Haydock The ex-Irish Top Cat Henry, having taken a significant step forward on his second start for Dr Richard Newland, may now be ready to score. Southfield Vic is feared but he is 13lb higher than for his last handicap run.
3.10 Haydock First time out was the right time to catch Sydney Paget last season and he is back down to a fair mark if ready after a long absence.
3.25 Kempton On the pure form of a maiden success, Made With Love is not well handicapped but that was his first start for John Gosden and he looks the type to have improved since.
3.45 Haydock Jamie Snowden’s yard is back in form and his lightly raced Future Gilded looks very nicely treated.
