Experience over youth in the John of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock
Published:
Racing tips ahead of all the action
It may not be Epsom, but there’s certainly plenty to chew over when it comes to the flat racing across the UK today.
There are eight live races on ITV from four different meetings stretching from Newmarket to Musselburgh.
And the Coral News Team will have keen eyes on Ed Chamberlin and co. as we preview the best of the action and provide tips
This column starts at Haydock and a very interesting Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes. Three of the main contenders – Dutch Connection, Emmaus, and Tabarrak – are tightly packed at the head of the betting.
And there are plenty of reasons to back each of that trio. But the stand-out surely must be the Charles Hill-trained favourite, Dutch Connection.
The six-year-old was a reasonably impressive fourth on his seasonal debut in the Lockinge. But it’s the fact that he’s been solely performing at Group 1 and Group 2 level that piques the interest.
He’ll face decent competition in the former upstarts, but each time he’s dropped back he’s won. And that should continue over 7f here.
Staying at Haydock, in the race beforehand, Alpha Delphini looks to be in with a chance of causing an upset against William Haggas’ Muthmir.
However, the latter is dropping back to Listed company after a fifth in the Group 2 Temple Stakes a couple of weeks ago. And that immediately puts him – in theory – as the best horse in the race.
Although there are worries over whether he still retains the quality of old, jockey Jim Crowley reckons he’s his best ride of the day. And the Coral News Team agree.
It started in Haydock, and it’ll end in Haydock, as we finish off with the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes. This looks a wide-open renewal with up to seven of nine entries in with a chance.
There’s a big interest in Markus Klug’s German mare Fosun making an impression. Connections have booked Silvestre de Sousa and that’s an indication of how highly they rate their five-year-old’s chances.
She’s a big fan of decent ground and Haydock will provide plenty of that with the recent good weather. It’s a reasonably-sized field with a lot of decent prices. But if she can carry her domestic form here, Fosun will be a player.
ITV Racing Tips:
1:55 Musselburgh – Reverend Jacobs
2:15 Haydock – Star Of Southwold
2:30 Musselburgh– El Astronaute
2:50 Haydock – Fosun e/w
3:05 Newmarket – Yafta
3:25 Haydock – Muthmir
3:40 Newmarket – Byron Flyer
4:00 Haydock – Dutch Connection
All Odds and Markets correct as of date and publication
