Yesterday’s Review

1pt e/way Cancan In The Rain (70) – A bizarre ride from Georgie Benson who was squeezed out of her position early on and switched to the right away from the pacemaker to race on the wing with no cover into a headwind. The selection weakened two furlongs out to finish 10th of 11 beaten 27 lengths. A performance to put a line through.

 

0.5pt e/way Vervain (73) – The selection wouldn’t have appreciated the very fast surface but battled all the way to the line to make the frame having taken up the running over two furlongs from home. She came home in fourth place beaten 5.75 lengths. Result 4th 15/2 adv…7/1 SP.

 

Today’s Advice

REDEMPTION ROAD (8f Group 3) – With conditions advertised as Heavy (Soft in places) for today’s action at Haydock there looks to be a few contestants in the (1.25) Superior Mile Stakes that have yet to experience these conditions. The selection is a real soft ground lover who has been transferred to the Michael Keady stable for £260,000 from David Marnane. A recent third place finish in this grade over 7f at Leopardstown for the Marnane stable when keeping on to finish a length a half third behind Native Warrior on Soft (Soft to Heavy) conditions would give him more than an outsider’s chance under today’s conditions.

I may be asking a bit too much from the three-year-old on his first race for his new stable and plenty of his rivals have form in stronger company, Hankelow being an example with a fine third place finish in the French 2000 Guineas. But conditions that day were just 7 lengths slower than standard that day, and with the track riding 36 to 37 lengths slower than standard yesterday, I was willing to give this mudlark a chance at the prices. Favourite Needle Match caught the eye when returning from his summer break last time out at Leopardstwon behind Isaac Newton. He did take his novice as a two-year-old on a soft surface at Newbury back in October 2025 when the track was riding 30 lengths per mile slower than standard. Although the winning timefigure was a lowly (85) on the day it does give favourite backers hope that today’s conditions should not be a problem.

 

VICTORY ACE (8f Hcap) – The (2.20) Kempton London Series Final Handicap is a decent contest for punters to get involved in as there is plenty of course and distance form to compare. Of the three at the head of the market there is no doubt that the selection has produced the best effort on paper so far. Indeed, he raced quicker than the favourite Cavolo Nero to the 2 furlong pole and produced a faster final two furlongs to boot as well. However, on viewing the favourite’s victory it should be noted that there looked to be a bit left in the locker from the Harry Eustace trained contender.

Nevertheless, with what we know so far I was happy to side with the impressive John Butler trained winner who had just over 4 lengths to spare over Mr Professor when completing his hat-trick of wins. The handicapper has had another go at him by adding 10lb but I was happy to stick with him until the winning streak is over. It is true that three-year-olds don’t have a great record in this contest the past 10 years, but six of the 35 runners have hit the frame and with plenty of pace on up front that should suit this hold-up performer.

Finlay Marsh takes the ride and he has been successful the only other time he has ridden for the stable aboard South Dakota Sioux back in November 2025. Nikovo deserves a mention following a career best (113) timefigure over the 7f at Newmarket recently when taking care of the Stuart Williams trained Cherry Cobbler by 2.75 lengths. The handicapper has added 7lb for today’s contest and the harder they go up front the better for this seven-year-old.

 

IN THE BREEZE (14f Hcap) – It’s been a long time between drinks for Aegean Prince who finds himself at the top of the market as the short price favourite for the (3.05) Haydock Old Borough Cup. Last seen finishing runner-up in a Listed contest at Deaville behind Viking Invasion 320 days ago, he looks to have been set a difficult seasonal return under today’s conditions. Prior to that he had made all to take his novice over 12f at Ascot by 8 lengths from Military Cross who has yet to frank the form. Yet to race on a Heavy surface I can let him win at these odds today.

Second favourite Finalise is a similar front-going type who also has yet to experience these type of conditions. The selection has won round here over 10f on Heavy going back in 2023 when trained by Mick Appleby. He has been revitalised by a switch to Henrietta Knight since and he recorded a career best (115) timefigure when destroying recent easy winner Maxident by 5 lengths on a Soft surface over 2 miles at Goodwood back in June. I can allow him his latest effort when returning from a 73 day break on ground that would have been way too fast last time out when always behind.

With a bit of pace on up front from the front two in the market and Kissmehoneyhoney conditions might just suit the son of Harzand and he looks worth an interest at a double figure price today.

 

0.5pt e/way Redemption Road (33/1 general) 1.25 Haydock

1pt e/way Victory Ace (11/2 William Hill, 5/1 general 4 places) 2.20 Kempton

0.75pt e/way In The Breeze (14/1 Paddy Power, 12/1 Skybet, Unibet 4 places) 3.05 Haydock