Evening all. A really good days racing overall for this time of the season and just a week til the Ladbrokes St Leger.
The Haydock Sprint Cup 3.25:
STRONG SUIT 6/1 (NAP)
This horse is such high class on his day that he was, towards the end of last season, looked at as the answer to Canford Cliffs in the Hannon yard. There are valid excuses all 3 starts this year- racing Frankel being one, and soft ground being the other.
I was really happy with his first run back on a quick surface LTO when Lethal Force stole the race, because Strong Suit ran on exceptionally well after being keen early, and that run will have bought him on for this. Hannon is shrewd in targetting these big pots of prizemoney and it seems like Strong Suit has had this sort of a race in mind for a while as he possesses the crusing speed to do it.
If he settles well enough and can find a position, I see no reason why he cannot do a similar thing to Dream Ahead last year, who was waited with before pouncing at the last minute.
The Irish Champion Stakes 5:45
ST NICHOLAS ABBEY 4/1 (Ladbrokes) (NB)
This is a controversial choice from me as I have always said this horse is better over further than 1m 2f. However, his record at left handed tracks is excellent and is where he has produced his most stunning performances- Breeders Cup, Epsom Coronation Cups, Chester Ormonde stakes, and his desperate 2nd to Cirrus Des Aigles in Meydan. He proved against Farhh that he is potentially still an excellent horse at this distance and has to be feared. 4/1 is a good price given how well he ran on to close on Nathaniel at Ascot and I'd say Nathaniel needs a mile and a half even more than St Nicholas Abbey, who does still possess an electric turn of foot on his day.
Handicap Punt? BECAUSEWECAN- 4.00 Haydock 20/1 - well handicapped and on quicker ground can slip the field from the front under the right tactical ride.
Enjoy the day folks!
The Haydock Sprint Cup 3.25:
STRONG SUIT 6/1 (NAP)
This horse is such high class on his day that he was, towards the end of last season, looked at as the answer to Canford Cliffs in the Hannon yard. There are valid excuses all 3 starts this year- racing Frankel being one, and soft ground being the other.
I was really happy with his first run back on a quick surface LTO when Lethal Force stole the race, because Strong Suit ran on exceptionally well after being keen early, and that run will have bought him on for this. Hannon is shrewd in targetting these big pots of prizemoney and it seems like Strong Suit has had this sort of a race in mind for a while as he possesses the crusing speed to do it.
If he settles well enough and can find a position, I see no reason why he cannot do a similar thing to Dream Ahead last year, who was waited with before pouncing at the last minute.
The Irish Champion Stakes 5:45
ST NICHOLAS ABBEY 4/1 (Ladbrokes) (NB)
This is a controversial choice from me as I have always said this horse is better over further than 1m 2f. However, his record at left handed tracks is excellent and is where he has produced his most stunning performances- Breeders Cup, Epsom Coronation Cups, Chester Ormonde stakes, and his desperate 2nd to Cirrus Des Aigles in Meydan. He proved against Farhh that he is potentially still an excellent horse at this distance and has to be feared. 4/1 is a good price given how well he ran on to close on Nathaniel at Ascot and I'd say Nathaniel needs a mile and a half even more than St Nicholas Abbey, who does still possess an electric turn of foot on his day.
Handicap Punt? BECAUSEWECAN- 4.00 Haydock 20/1 - well handicapped and on quicker ground can slip the field from the front under the right tactical ride.
Enjoy the day folks!
