Saturday’s Haydock tips
13:30 – Rahiebb
14:00 – Into Battle
14:40 – See The Fire
15:15 – Azahara Palace
15:50 – Papa Cocktail
16:25 – Maelstrom
16:55 – Starlit Spice
17:25 – Tremolo
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Top on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings and with a ‘small p’ attached (which means improvement is expected), RAHIEBB gets the nod.
He had created quite a big impression when making a winning debut at Newcastle, so he is worth another chance to defy a penalty, having still looked green when runner-up back there five weeks ago. This does look a warm novice, though, with likely improvers Opportunity and Antrim heading the dangers.
The first-named looked as if he would be sharper for the run when four lengths fourth to Falconer at Nottingham in October, not knocked about, while Yarmouth runner-up Antrim is closely related to the top-class Enable, who won 11 Group 1 events, and should improve for this longer trip.
With Minhad and Renato having both shown ability, and newcomers Caliban and Emerald Island both nicely bred, this looks a race to follow.
The Ed Walker-trained INTO BATTLE made a winning reappearance in 2024 and is taken to do the same this time around, given how well his yard has started the season.
Dropping into a 0-80, he looks to have conditions to suit. Yokohama posted a good effort when a ½-length second to Sweet Reward at Newbury a fortnight ago and can go well again despite a 3 lb higher mark, with the returning Individualism another to consider for an in-form stable.
Richard Kingscote takes over in the saddle, which looks a positive for the front-runner who has had a wind op in the close season. Course winner Pol Roger is respected, but he doesn’t have a good record fresh, so Salamanca City may emerge as more of a danger.
14:40 – Myal
Having ended 2024 firmly on the up with a four-timer, MYAL picked up where he left off when shaping particularly well in the Spring Mile at Doncaster a month ago. The return to this C&D (where he is unbeaten) will suit and he has a lot in his favour, having shown an ability to act on any ground.
Fellow low-mileage four-year-old Skukuza is the type to rate higher this year, so he’s a threat despite his best form coming since stepping up to a mile, along with Thunder Roar, who finished ahead of the selection on Town Moor (demoted from first) but is 4 lb higher as a result.
Ramazan looked like he needed the run at Musselburgh and is considered, along with the class-dropping English Oak, who has been gelded since his last appearance, and Cerulean Bay and Yorkshire, both of whom know where the winning line is.
Another ‘strong’ pace forecast here, which should suit hold-up performer AZAHARA PALACE, who ended last term with good placed efforts at around this trip and, having won on her respective reappearance last season, she appeals as a likely player back from six months off with Rossa Ryan an eye-catching booking.
The consistent Night Breeze and Timeform ‘Horse In Focus’ Afloat are others to consider, the last-named having travelled well when meeting trouble repeatedly at Leicester on reappearance, with the unexposed pair of Roland Garros and Live Aid another pair to keep an eye on.
Ex-Andre Fabre inmate Hamlet’s Night hasn’t been with his new yard for long and is one to watch closely in the betting now dropped in trip on his second start for the stable.
A chance is taken on PAPA COCKTAIL, who is 4 lb lower in the weights compared to when landing this race two years ago and, though yet to get his head in front for this yard, he has shaped better than the bare result on a number of occasions on the all-weather in recent months.
Rossa Ryan looks an eye-catching jockey booking, too. Arnaz, whose sole win came at this time of year, resumes with his yard among the winners and is next on the list ahead of the unexposed Bear Rock and Belsito, who represents a yard/owner in good form at present.
Vaunted, Roaring Ralph and the dangerously-treated Parisiac, along with top-weight Wichahpi, make up the rather lengthy shortlist.
A large field, but it’s hard to ignore the claims of Timeform’s ‘Horse In Focus’ MAELSTROM, who proved a different proposition when well-backed switched to a handicap at Yarmouth on Tuesday and appeals as the type who could go on and rack up a sequence; a 6 lb penalty leaves him well-treated.
Gesundheit is a half-brother to a useful type and he’s fancied to get involved on his return/yard debut, having left Ed Walker for 30,000 guineas, with narrow Newcastle runner-up Vault of Heaven and Lord Capulet – a half-brother to the high-class three-time Group 1 winner Rosallion – another couple worth considering, too.
Clearly, the latter could be well treated, but his form and breeding suggests he might want a stiffer test of stamina before he’s seen to best effect.
The Ollie Sangster-trained STARLIT SPICE – one of two Timeform ‘Horse In Focus’ runners in the line-up – was a big eyecatcher on her debut at Leicester in September and looks the type to improve this term.
She can make a winning return at the main expense of fellow HIF Silver Chamber, who shaped well on bad ground at Newmarket in November, and recent Newbury fourth, Cajole.
Both are open to progress and may pose the chief threat. However, it would be no surprise to see expensive newcomers Althawaqeb (who is out of a half-sister to the very smart 1¼m winner Deauville Legend) and Bintalina (a half-sister to the St James’s Palace Stakes winner Barney Roy) make an immediate impact.
The Ollie Sangster-trained STARLIT SPICE – one of two Timeform ‘Horse In Focus’ runners in the line-up – was a big eyecatcher on her debut at Leicester in September and looks the type to improve this term.
She can make a winning return at the main expense of fellow HIF Silver Chamber, who shaped well on bad ground at Newmarket in November, and recent Newbury fourth, Cajole.
Both are open to progress and may pose the chief threat. However, it would be no surprise to see expensive newcomers Althawaqeb (who is out of a half-sister to the very smart 1¼m winner Deauville Legend) and Bintalina (a half-sister to the St James’s Palace Stakes winner Barney Roy) make an immediate impact.
Harry Charlton’s TREMOLO proved most progressive at two and is fancied to return in style and make a winning handicap debut from this BHA mark of 83 at the chief expense of recent Wolverhampton scorer Carron, who also has better days ahead of him and rates a major threat from stall 1 for a yard that won this race in 2023.
Arbitration resumed with a solid Musselburgh fourth and appeals as the pick in the battle for minor honours along with Royal Alliance (who has cheekpieces on for the first time) and Yabher, who should step up for his modest handicap debut at Newmarket earlier this month.
Saturday’s Haydock tips
13:30 – Rahiebb
14:00 – Into Battle
14:40 – See The Fire
15:15 – Azahara Palace
15:50 – Papa Cocktail
16:25 – Maelstrom
16:55 – Starlit Spice
17:25 – Tremolo
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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