Bateel primed for Pinnacle Stakes
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Follow our NAP and next best on Saturday
The flat season is in full swing and Haydock headlines Saturday’s schedule with its seven-race card topped by the Pinnacle Stakes and John of Gaunt Stakes, a couple of group three affairs.
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We’re focusing on the action at Haydock, and if you read on we discuss our NAP and next best of the afternoon, while there’s race-by-race selections at the foot of this page, aimed at giving you an interest throughout the day.
French raider to cause an upset
Starting off in the 3.30pm Pinnacle Stakes, a fillies’ group three contest run over one mile three furlongs. Coral traders have Ajman Princess marked up as the early favourite in the betting, but we’re taking that on with the second-fav, Bateel.
The talented five-year-old French invader enjoyed a fantastic start to her career in this part of the world, rolling off three wins in-a-row on her first three starts at Salisbury, Goodwood and Newmarket. That early promise was boosted when doing the business at Newmarket last summer in a listed race on soft ground. Everything looks ready for her to go in again, 12 months later.
Further improvement due from Bateel
Last seen finding only one too good at Chantilly at the end of April in group three company, connections will take plenty of confidence from that effort, and have been biding their time for a worthwhile return. They seem to have it here. It’ll be a tough task to overturn the jolly, but she has done nothing but get better so far, and we’re happy to take a shot.
Coral traders remain unconvinced, but that’s great news if you fancy following us in, with a healthy 3/1 currently available on Bateel. That’s already been nibbled in from an opening show of 4/1, and we’re hoping it proves to be shrewd money.
Breton Rock solid value
Chief support goes in the next on the card, the competitive John of Gaunt Stakes, another grade three match up. Here we’ll be changing tactics and agreeing with our horse racing team, who have Breton Rock as the one to beat.
With nine runners expected to battle it out over seven furlongs, we have to take the clues and hints where we can get them and, on this occasion, that comes from Andrea Artzeni. The jockey has an impressive strike rate of getting favourites home in front, but he’ll need every bit of skill to see the best horse in the race score under a penalty. The selection goes as an impressive winner over course and distance, making the 5/2 easy to trust.
Haydock selections
1.45 – Materialist
2.20 – Fantasy Keeper
2.55 – Cosmic Chatter
3.30 – Bateel
4.05 – Breton Rock
4.40 – Warrior’s Spirit
5.15 – Zwayyan
