Find out which of Luke Morris’ rides has been “working really well” ahead of Haydock

The Classics at the Curragh this weekend are the main focus and I expect Galileo Gold to add to his win at Newmarket by winning the Irish 2,000 Guineas on Saturday.

From what I can see, the race is Galileo Gold’s to lose. The form is in the book for everyone to see as he won so well at Newmarket and it would take a lot based on that for Air Force Blue to reverse the placings with him. Any rain is going to help Galileo Gold as well.

As for the 1,000 Guineas, Now Or Never was very impressive when winning her trial and I think she’s the one to beat.

The other major event this week was Newcastle racing on the all-weather for the first time and I suspect I’ll be there plenty over the winter in particular when I go for a third all-weather jockeys’ title in a row.

I wasn’t riding there but it looks a nice, consistent track and a fair track too. The surface looks a little slow at present but those new surfaces always take some time to bed in. It’s going to be a big help for the northern trainers to have an all-weather track closer by.

Newcastle is the first track in Britain to have a straight mile on the all-weather and I think jockeys will learn how to adapt to riding the straight mile because you won’t want to be going too fast. I think it’ll be a stiff track on the all-weather so it’s a case of judging when to go.

I’m looking forward to trying the track out soon but my focus is on Haydock on Saturday and five rides with chances of providing me with winners:

2.30 Haydock – Moscato
He should be capable of being involved in the shake up. He’s fairly fit and working well and should run a nice race as a result. He’s a thorough stayer and I’ll look to ride him nice and positive as he’s a strong galloper.

This looks a very competitive race with some solid horses towards the top that have shown good form already, and then there are potential improvers there too. I really like my horse and I won on him last time. He’d want fairly quick ground ideally but he’s been working well this spring. Off his mark there’s plenty of room for improvement and there’s a nice race in him for sure. He’s got a good draw in stall three as well so I’m expecting a good run from him.

3.40 Haydock – Priceless
She was highly regarded last year and she was impressive when she won her maiden. Since then she’s been disappointing but that’s because she’s been too free in her races. She wears a hood in this race and if she relaxes and gives herself a chance she more than capable of being involved as she’s not too far behind the others on the figures. I’ll need to try and keep her as calm as possible before the race by taking her down slowly and in the race itself it’ll be able trying to switch her off as early as possible behind the speed to save her for the end.

He rides like a five-and-a-half furlong horse really and he ran very well in the Palace House Stakes last time. He ideally wants slower ground to be seen at his best and perhaps a stiffer test than the flat five at Haydock. If the ground came up soft he wouldn’t be without a chance, albeit Mecca’s Angel would be very hard to beat in those circumstances.

5.10 Haydock – Willsy
He seems to be the typical Mick Channon horse in that he’s tough, hardy and has been running well. He’s up in grade but he’s form’s solid so I hope he can run a nice race here.

Cheers,
Luke