This week’s Classic trials at Chester have been dominated by Aidan O’Brien and he has leading chances of sweeping the Lingfield versions this weekend too. They are the features of a busy Saturday of action across NINE meetings that has big fields at Ascot and a mixed card at Haydock to look forward to.
1.50 ASCOT – SCREAMING PETRUS
A very competitive opener at Ascot but SCREAMING PETRUS right down the bottom is an interesting runner.
David Loughnane doesn’t throw horses in at the deep end without reason and this thrice-raced 4yo was well backed on all his starts last year, culminating in a Wolverhampton maiden success over this trip. The form doesn’t amount to much but a mark of 76 could be very lenient. Hayley Turner rides as Amo Racing retained Jockey Rossa Ryan cannot do the weight and he ironically is aboard the favourite Flyin’ Solo, on whom he won back-to-back races on last season.
2.25 HAYDOCK – PARTY BUSINESS
PARTY BUSINESS did us a great turn at Aintree when winning despite it not looking likely for almost the entire three-mile trip. He was being niggled along from an early stage and never really travelled but he always kept finding and was a comfortable winner in the end.
A subsequent 9lb rise and the suitability of a tight track at Haydock are questions that need answering, but the application of cheek pieces and young Irish conditional Mark McDonagh, who will be having just his third ride in Britain, are eye-catching additions.
Ian Williams’ 6yo is taken to go in again as He could easily make up into a graded class stayer next season. He was still going well when falling in the G1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December and beat subsequent EBF final winner Complete Unknown at Ascot earlier in the season too.
Wbee and Pileon renew rivalry after just a nose separated them at Cheltenham last month while Irish raider Bronson In Blue needs a market check.
3.00 HAYDOCK – SEVERANCE
The Swinton Hurdle is always a hotly contested handicap and this year is no exception with the 1-2-5 from the Scottish Champion Hurdle lining up here five weeks on. Milkwood lost his crown when fifth that day but didn’t have the fast pace he needed so will be better suited here with See The Sea likely to go off at a decent clip. There is little to choose between Anna Bunina and West Cork with a 3lb pull for the runner-up for a length defeat at Ayr.
Other than See The Sea, there isn’t a whole load of pace on but she will ensure it’s a good test and it will suit a host of hold up performers. Ingleby Hollow cold hit the frame at a decent price after a course and distance fourth three weeks back but I’m going in again with the frustrating SEVERANCE. He needs a good pace and to pounce late, something that could pan out here up Haydock’s long straight.
He will probably be last off the bridle and went so close at Aintree last time after a small wind op. He is effectively up another 6lb without Kevin Brogan’s claim, but Kielan Woods went close on him at Cheltenham on Trials Day and he is weighted to reverse that form with Cormier. At a double figure price, he will be hard to keep out of the frame and today may just be the day we catch him right.
3.50 LINGFIELD - SHE DO
This prize has gone overseas in five of the last nine years but unless Wrens Breath improves from three to four, which is plausible, it looks set to stay at home this year.
Roger Varian won the race in 2018 and I am a big fan of his SHE DO. Three starts as a juvenile yielded a win and two runners- up effort, but it was her 3yo campaign that saw her climb the ranks.
A Royal Ascot fourth at a big price was followed late on in the season with a listed fifth back at that course before winning at that level at Newmarket in October. She rarely runs below par and if she has improved again over the winter after just nine starts, she will be very difficult to beat this afternoon.
4.05 ASCOT – CHIEFOFCHIEFS
28 runners spread across the Ascot straight and as always, we have plenty of big field regulars lining up.
One that appears to have huge claims is CHIEFOFCHIEFS for Charlie Fellowes and Hayley Turner. This pair registered Royal Ascot success in 2019 and 2020 while this 9yo won the inaugural Silver Wokingham in 2020. He is only 2lb higher here and actually 2lb lower than when seventh in this race last year. He is better drawn here in 23 towards the stands side where it usually pays to be when the ground is decent at Ascot and he looks sure to be involved after an encouraging return over six furlongs at Kempton which would have been quick enough.
Drawn next door is Darkness who was quietly fancied for the Lincoln. That was a strange race and he was much better at Haydock a fortnight ago, suggesting this stiff seven furlongs may suit. He is 3lb lower than his Lincoln mark too so could go well at a price.
*18+ | BeGambleAware
