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Show in for his greatest Hit yet
9th June 2023
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck casts his expert eye over Saturday’s racing from Haydock and Beverley, as well putting up a selection in the big race from Belmont Park.
Haydock, Saturday
RAASEL at 6/1 might be the bet to follow up last year’s success in Haydock’s Achilles Stakes on Saturday (1.15pm). Although he’s not set the world alight this season, he ran a perfectly good fourth on unsuitably soft ground in the Palace House before a complete throw out in the draw-bias farce that was the Temple Stakes. We’re working on a different set-up here, and there’s oodles of low-drawn pace (Clarendon House/Regional) to drag him right into the race.
SILVER SAMURAI can be another repeat winner at 8/1 in the six-furlong handicap (1.50pm). Again, he’s not really had a race to suit this season, and the handicapper has cut him some serious slack as a result of just a couple of below par efforts. But we know he likes this place, gets some headgear for the first time, and could easily bounce right back.
GET SHIRTY should have a pretty sound chance at 9/2 in the twelve-furlong handicap (2.25pm). He’s a terrifically versatile horse, but his overall record suggests that this distance in a well-run race is what suits best, and he’s fairly treated granted his ideal circumstances. His runs in the middle east last winter showed him to be as good as ever, while his recent pipe-opener in the Yorkshire Cup should have him spot on.
SEA SILK ROAD might be a bit of value at 8/1 in the Lester Piggott (3.00pm) (named for the trainer’s father in law). The favourite could be anything, but needs another step up, while neither Time Lock nor Mimikyu is at all straightforward and will need the brilliance of their respective riders. Sea Silk Road looked well up to this last year, and didn’t run too badly in a better race on her comeback, when the trainer felt she was only just ready to do herself justice. Expect more here.
THE WIZARD OF EYE has a golden opportunity of a big race win in the John of Gaunt (3.35pm) at 9/2. This won’t take a lot of winning – form horse The Astrologist isn’t a seven-furlong specialist, while Jumby might not get a great position round here if he starts slowly, and it’s impossible to know what El Caballo is capable of. The selection likes it quick, likes this trip, and could get rolling along on the lead.
Beverley, Saturday
FLORA OF BERMUDA is taken to win the Hilary Needler at Beverley (2.05pm) at 5/1. She shaped quite well at Sandown on her debut, making her ground stylishly before inexperience told. On a sounder surface, and from a good draw with Oisin Murphy aboard, she can build on that.
UNITED FRONT can be another for Murphy at 5/1 in a rather uninspiring 0-80 (2.40pm). He’s nowhere near as good on turf as on the all-weather these days, but he still ran with great credit behind a filly that was below her true grade at Yarmouth and should figure here on the strength of that.
FUSTERLANDIA looks the answer to the two-year-old trophy (3.15pm) at 11/4. He showed a lot of ability on his debut, only to be ground down by a horse who has the Chesham Stakes as a very realistic target. Given the normal trajectory of the stable’s two-year-olds, I’d expect him to be going very close here.
Belmont Park
HIT SHOW can cause a minor upset in the Belmont Stakes (00.02am Sunday) at 12/1. He did exceptionally well to keep going to finish fifth in the Kentucky Derby, doing second best of those anywhere near the pace, and not capitulating. By Candy Ride out of a Tapit mare, he is at least as credentialed as most of these to gallop over a distance of ground, and has had a decent freshen up and prep for this.
