3 minute read
Haydock Park is one of six UK and Irish meetings on Wednesday and racing fans have a competitive midweek card to look forward to.
Shagpyle has been the centre of media attention as a half-sister to Group 1 winner Pyledriver and lines up in the 1m3½f Class 2 Jewson Wigan EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (2:40).
The Frankel filly won with plenty in hand on her debut at Ascot and was visually impressive. Further improvement is expected over a longer distance although stable form would be a slight concern, with the William Muir & Chris Grassick yard achieving no winners in the last fourteen days (0-9).
Her main opposition is likely to be William Haggas' Truthful, who had to battle hard to win on debut at Salisbury over 1m2f. She hung right in the final furlong but kept on well to take the lead strides before the winning post.
Watcha Matey is the only runner with previous racecourse experience in the 6f Class 4 Jewson St Helens EBF Novice Stakes (3:15) and his fourth at Chester suggests he may be susceptible to a talented newcomer.
Lake Forest is a half-brother to two talented Black Type performers over 1m4f so he may be worth consideration later in the campaign whilst Tropical Air is out of a half-sister to Godolphin's Prix Jean Prat winner Aesop's Fables.
Preference is given to Simon & Ed Crisford's Fauntleroy, who represents a stable with a current strike rate of 33% (7-21) from the last fourteen days.
In the 7f Class 4 Pat Hodgson And Mary Shields Acsil Novice Stakes (3:50), State Of Desire can put an arguably disappointing debut behind him to record a maiden victory.
The colt jumped the path and attempted to make all when having his first run at Yarmouth, but was outpaced in the closing stages and beaten by the impressive Watch My Tracer who heads to Royal Ascot.
A small field has assembled for the 1m3½f Class 4 Jewson Tool Hire Apprentice Handicap (2:10) with Bollin Margaret favoured as a last-start winner.
She was impressive when scoring by six lengths at Thirsk and seemed to enjoy the step up in trip, despite not favouring the distance in the past (1-8 attempts prior).
Calypso was a beaten favourite when third on seasonal reappearance at Newcastle on the all-weather and is the pick in the 7f Class 5 Jewson Warrington Handicap (4:20).
The form of trainer James Ferguson (0-11) would be slightly off-putting but the three-year-old was very keen on his return to action and could improve considerably with a first-time tongue tie applied.
Last start winner Chorus Line makes the step up in grade in the 1m Class 4 Jewson Widnes Fillies' Handicap (4:50) from a yard in red-hot form (30% from last fourteen days) whilst Greek Order looks capable of going back-to-back in the 1m2f Class 4 Jewson Chorley Handicap (5:20).
RACING & SPORTS SELECTIONS
RACE 1 – BOLLIN MARGARET
RACE 2 – SHAGPYLE
RACE 3 – FAUNTLEROY
RACE 4 – STATE OF DESIRE
RACE 5 - CALYPSO
RACE 6 – CHORUS LINE
RACE 7 – GREEK ORDER