Flat Season Opener Haydock - CopyBet
Flat Season Opener Haydock – CopyBet
While lots of eyes are trained on the Jumps Finale at Sandown on Saturday afternoon, further north at Haydock Park they are getting their Flat season up and running.
It's the first meeting of the new campaign on the level at the Merseyside venue, with eight races from 13:30-17:25 on a competitive card with six handicaps. Below are three horses worth considering for the Haydock action on a busy Saturday afternoon.
The season-opener at Haydock could bear witness to a smart colt strutting his stuff as RAHIEBB, a son of Frankel, bids to register a second career win at the third attempt for trainer Roger Varian in the silks of Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.
He impressed amid greenness in a winning debut at Newcastle over a mile on the Tapeta in March, beating previous winners in doing so, and his runner-up finish back there a fortnight later isn't a stick to beat him with.
He was held off by Warrant Holder upped to 1m2f but the winner was possibly aided by having the running rail to guide him, while Rahiebb still showed clear signs of learning on the job. They pulled miles clear of everything else and, chances are, that the John & Thady Gosden-trained runner in the Royal silks is above average himself, so failing to successfully concede him 7lb is no slight.
Silvestre De Sousa's partner gives 6lb to his rivals at Haydock but once more steps up in trip for this turf bow and the Dante-entered colt can take this in his stride en route to bigger things.
John Mackie would have been pleased with the effort of DISTINCTION at Doncaster during last month's Lincoln meeting as the Kodiac gelding was denied a length in finishing third in an apprentice handicap over 10 furlongs.
He was back on turf after a solid, if winless, winter on the all-weather and showed that he may soon take advantage of a reduced mark on grass.
He won at Pontefract last summer off 67 over a mile, but will once more line up here from 5lb lower, the same mark he had at Donny.
The winner of that contest was a lightly-raced improver on reappearance and the third has won since in clear-cut fashion. From the foot of the weights, Distinction can go well back in this slightly higher grade.
Haydock's straight six furlongs can act as a good test of stamina for the trip when there is soft in the going description, and if the field engages in battle early on, and that could be a help to SUMMER RAIN.
The gelded son of Ardad caught the eye staying on for third at Wolverhampton back at the start of the month, displaying improved form on only his third start in handicap company.
The front two stole a good march on him but he came home quite strongly for his bronze medal and could soon have more to offer on turf this summer, while the presence of 'soft' in the going description is a plus.
He races from 1lb lower in the ratings for this 15-runner three-year-old sprint and could defy the forecast odds.
18+. UK residents only. Betting tips are for entertainment purposes only and reflect the author's opinion.
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to change. No guarantees of outcomes. Please gamble responsibly.
Support available via BeGambleAware.org, GamCare.org.uk, and GAMSTOP.co.uk. T&Cs apply.
Enda McElhinney is an experienced sports writer with an in-depth knowledge on horse racing in Britain and Ireland, while he also covers football and snooker extensively.