Newmarket-based trainer William Haggas is a man who loves a winner on a Saturday and he is usually good for one too. It has to be hugely interesting that the handler, who is based in in the south-east of England, will send one horse on a 780-mile round trip to The Curragh Racecourse on Saturday. It would cost a fair whack on fuel and expenses to bring one horse over. Let’s take a look at the horse in more detail below.
A field of 14 runners are set to go to post for the Listed Darley Irish EBF Brigid’s Pastures Stakes, with a valuable pot up for grabs. Andy Slattery’s Bells On Her Toes could go off a warm order for the race on the back of two big runs at Group 3 and Listed level on her last two outings, but those connections won’t like seeing William Haggas’ name on the racecard.
The Haggas runner in question is Pinafore, and the Dark Angel filly will be partnered by Chris Hayes, who has had a fantastic season in the saddle to date. This lady has never raced at this level before, but she arrives here after winning a handicap at Nottingham from a career high mark of 93 when last seen, so this is the obvious next step.
That win came on heavy ground so the forecast soft conditions shouldn’t be an inconvenience to her. There are a few more in here with arguably better profiles, but it would be folly to dismiss a William Haggas runner in Ireland. He has sent 5 winners to the Curragh from 16 runners in the last five years.
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