3.20pm Haydock Tips & Betting Preview 23/04/2016

3.20pm Haydock – ApolloBet Bet Through Your Mobile Handicap Class Two – 1m

We are delighted to see that Richard Fahey (who had a few entries in here) now relies on Gabrial’s Kaka (9/1 Each Way) who scored with a bit in hand at Chelmsford last Saturday and will arrive here race fit, unlike plenty of his rivals. Although back in 2014, he has won off a rating as high as 95 so the extra four pounds today that pushes him up to 90 shouldn’t be too much of a concern,and with the drying ground in his favour he must have every chance of a follow up today. Four of his five career wins have been over a mile or thereabouts, and we are intrigued to see Tom Queally booked to ride him this afternoon for the very first time. A top class pilot, he will always be fondly remembered for all those winning rides on the legendary Frankel, but there is more to him than that and he may yet be able to bring about the necessary improvement to win again this afternoon.

Meanwhile, team Godolphin are allowing  Classic Collection (10/1) back to the track this afternoon, and we are pretty confident he will add a few more wins to his CV this season, granted the right conditions. A son of Cape Cross, he was always going to be a late maturing sort and only had the two races last season when a good second to Sweet P at Windsor, before winning his second race at Doncaster when easily seeing off Class Two handicap winner Pacify over a mile and a quarter. He was visually impressive that day and seems sure to win more races, but we are very wary of the drop back to a mile today as he has appeared to stay on over further in all his recent races, and may lack the speed to be as competitive enough over this trip.

Sinfonietta (14/1) skipped a race last weekend, presumably on account of the ground, but it seems as if  connections feel there is enough cut to keep him involved and he ought to be there or thereabouts. Some relatively uninspired form saw him head off to Nottingham off a lowly rating of 76 which he used to great effect for an eased down six length victory that has seen him put up a massive thirteen pounds by the handicapper.  The question is, was it the heavy going that saw such a massive improvement, or has the penny finally dropped after eleven races, because if it is the latter, he may not be as out of this as it first appears, and he is as entitled as any horse to come on for his first run in over five months.

Erik The Red (12/1) ended last season in top form with wins at Thirsk, Beverley, and Chester over eight, eight and a half, and ten and a half furlongs, but has to run today off a rating of 91 having started his three race run off of just 78. Only a four-year-old, he could well still be improving, and he has won on good to soft ground, but he also has a 210 day lay off to try and overcome. Trainer Kevin Ryan is in among the winners which should cheer his supporters, and he could yet be in for a very good season despite the weight rise, though others may have a bit too much pace for him back over a mile today.

Lastly, and continuing with the unexposed sorts, Sir Michael Stoute has Mustaaqeem (8/1) in to run here, and he has only had the three career starts at the age of four.  Second on his debut at Newmarket, he followed that with a cosy if not impressive maiden win at Doncaster and a fourth in a Sandown handicap when he appeared to fail to see out the ninth furlong. Not seen since last June, we assume he has had the odd niggle or training issue, but the Stoute yard are in great form of late and we shall be looking out for his price and hoe he runs today for future reference at the very least.

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