Good morning/evening everyone I hope you are all eagerly awaiting the fantastic racing this weekend after last week's disappointing turn out. Despite that we still salvaged a profitable day with B Fifty Two who was a winning nap, but there is no time to celebrate as we have to do the same again this week. Today's main race is the Betfred Sprint Cup which is a Group One over six furlongs, unfortunately Slade Power doesn't take his chance however his fellow superstar stable mate in Sole Power does.
As always we have a video preview prepared for you guys as we look forward to all of the action on Channel 4 today. Joining me on the panel this week are @Adamwebb121 and @Calummadell as Michael forgot what day it was... I wish I was joking. I hope you enjoy the preview and find some winners along with us!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQufOPRRq_s
One last thing to mention before getting to the selections. Tomorrow (Saturday) I am hosting the late show on BetRacingNation as we preview the jumps season ahead, I will be joined on the panel by Gary Woods and Sam Boswell. Even more importantly (Sorry guys) I will be interviewing Nick Scholfield, Jamie Moore and trainer Rebecca Menzies about the upcoming season. I hope you can join us, but if not then you can catch the interviews on Youtube. You can watch live via the link below at Midday until 1:30.
http://www.sportstonightlive.com/
Now onto the all important selections!
3:15 Haydock Park - Hassle
Hassle has been progressing nicely this season before finishing third when staying on all too late in the Shergar Cup behind Retirement Plan, who boosted that form when running a good race in the Ebor. That effort came over two miles at Ascot which wouldn't suggest that a drop in trip will be in his favour, however Adam Kirby knows the horse well which can't be said for Olivier Peslier.
You can't talk too badly of a ride in the Shergar Cup as they riders won't have even sat on the horses before, but Hassle would benefit from more of a stamina test. Today promises to be just that and Haydock may be a flat course, but the long straight means that they race a long way from home, so staying power is essential. The ground isn't too much of a worry at present, however he wouldn't want too much more rain to be seen at his best this afternoon.
Havana Cooler is a horse I like but it will take a huge performance if he were to win this off top weight and the bottom weight, Epsom Hill will need a deluge of rain tonight. Glenard recently won at York and is one of the pace angles, however he does have stamina worries and Quest For More looked to appreciated the step up in trip last time out, but he is hard to win with. With all things considered it would be no surprise is Hassle had more to offer and should give his running again. (10/1)
3:30 Ascot - Agent Murphy
Brian Meehan and connections of Agent Murphy all but lost a good horse earlier in the season with Da Do Run Run, but their representative here has done well at picking up the pieces.
We have only seen him on a racecourse three times but he has impressed on each occasion and last time gave the impression that this trip would suit. He bumped into Redkirk on that occasion who is a well regarded horse of William Haggas', but the horses who finished behind him that day haven't exactly boosted the form, despite Mantou running well in the Melrose before his saddle came off along with his rider. Both himself and Redkirk put a lot of distance between themselves and the field however so it could just be that them two are a lot better than their opponents that day.
One last thing to add about Agent Murphy is to defend the fact that his winning margins have never been that great. He won by a head at Bath when running over a trip that was in all likeliness too short and hit the front too soon at Sandown, which was seen again at Ascot when not doing much in front late on in the day. However we take Agent Murphy to defy another six pound rise in the handicap and take a further step forward to better company. (16/1)
3:50 Haydock Park - G Force
This race obviously revolves around Sole Power who has been nothing short of sensational this year, but over five furlongs, today's race is over six furlongs which he has struggled over on every attempt in the past.
One that wasn't far behind the favourite in the Nunthorpe was G Force who represents Middleham Park Racing and Dave O'Meara, who has his string in fine form. My eye was initially drawn to the staying on Cougar Mountain in the Nunthorpe, however after a further look it would appear that G Force could be branded an unlucky loser. Danny Tudhope tried to get a lead into the race from Sole Power who didn't have an easy passage in his own right, however the eventual winner got a gap at the perfect time and G Force has to suffer. Before that he found the five furlongs at Goodwood too fast which is no disgrace at all and the step up to six furlongs should suit him.
As mentioned before I am a fan of Cougar Mountain who has been thrown into the deep end in his early career, but he may just need a bit more time and peak next season. Tropics is also an interesting one as he has refound his best form, but I am desperate for him to go to Santa Anita to contest the Breeders Cup Sprint. This could be the first Group One for G Force though. (11/1)
5:15 Ascot - Marmalady
If we have three winners by now then a lot will be riding on the chances of Marmalady who chased home Intrinsic over a furlong further here in May. Since then things haven't really progressed like they promised to but she is still a young sprinter with bags of potential, especially when she gets her beloved fast ground like today.
She was last seen when finishing third at Lingfield over six furlongs, but I wouldn't expect Lingfield to be her track after running poorly there previously. She also didn't look to be striding out fully in the closing stages so there could have been something holding her back, however she wouldn't be here today if that wasn't corrected. This is a strong race and it can probably be viewed as a negative that Ryan Moore prefers to ride Foxy Forever, however William Buick is a more than able deputy.
There are some opinions that Marmalady is better over six furlongs however she also has bags of speed and she won't be left behind and will stay the stiff five well. Marmalady to end the day on a high for Gary Moore and William Buick. (14/1)
NAP - Agent Murphy
Nb - Hassle
Good luck tomorrow guys and as always, happy punting!
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