Richard Fahey gives us the lowdown on his Saturday team at Haydock, Thirsk and Wolverhampton including 32Red Sprint Cup hopeful Sands Of Mali.
We’re on a little bit of a retrieval mission with Sands Of Mali in the 32Red Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock on Saturday but I must admit to being a bit surprised by how big he is in the market at around 20/1.
He beat the second-favourite James Garfield fair and square at this track earlier in the season and I can tell you he’s really pleasing us at Musley Bank with his recent homework.
Nothing went right for him in the July Cup or in France last time. He was dropped in at Deauville but he’s a horse that likes to be on the speed and he’ll be ridden much more prominently back at Haydock.
He made all in the Sandy Lanes so we know this track suits and he’ll appreciate any rain as well. Judging by his work he’s in great form and we couldn’t be any happier with him so I’m hopeful he’ll run a massive race.
🗣 "I didn't know which way it had gone on the bob. He's so tough and genuine."
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) May 26, 2018
Sands Of Mali edges Sandy Lane thriller at @haydockraces.
Replay and reaction 👇https://t.co/uaEaDjNXPvpic.twitter.com/nn2F20WHhB
Also at Haydock we run Exhort in the EBF Breeders’ Series 32Red Fillies’ Handicap at 5.25 for Cheveley Park.
She’s a lovely Dutch Art filly that has improved all year and she won’t mind any rain either. We’d be hopeful of a good run from her as she didn’t have too much room when running okay at York last time.
That’s it for Haydock but we’ve seven going to Thirsk starting with Irreverent in the Jenny Roberts Millinery - EBF Novice Stakes at 2.00.
He’s a nice horse, a home bred by Iffraaj, and he’s a big horse. This is his first run and he’s likely to be raw and green but if the penny drops he could run a nice race as we like him.
In the Barkers Of Northallerton Nursery Handicap we run two and there’s very little between them.
Ventura Bay has come down a few pounds after running in nurseries but he’d have a sporting chance stepping up to a mile for the first time. The trip should suit him.
As for Firewater he seems to stay well despite being by Monsieur Bond and judging by his Nottingham run last time he’ll be doing all of his best work at the finish.
We’re also double-handed in the Moody Construction Fillies' Handicap with Grise Lightning and Queen Penn doing battle.
The latter has had a few problems with the stalls but she’s probably the pick on form including a good third at the track last time.
Grise Lightning probably bounced the last day at Hamilton but she seems well in herself at home now so we’d be hopeful she can bounce back to the sort of form that saw her beat Angel’s Glory.
Borodin runs for us in the British Stallion Studs EBF Handicap and he ran a cracker a the same track in the Thirsk Summer Cup Handicap on August 4.
He wasn’t so good at York last time but back at Thirsk in a slightly easier contest he should go well.
In the same race Accessor has come to us from Richard Hannon’s and this is his first run for the yard. It’s a bit of a fact-finding mission with him – and we feel he might be better over further – but he’s been doing well at home.
Finally we run four over at Wolverhampton’s evening meeting starting with Dose in the sportnation.bet Home Of Rewards Apprentice Handicap.
Russell Harris claims 7lb and he’s having his first ride for us. She should give him a good spin around as she’s consistent and has run well at the track before.
In the 6.15 we run Rene Mathis in the sportnation.bet Claiming Stakes and he should take all the beating really.
He won a claimer at Chester a couple of starts ago and he has a big chance in this on official ratings.
Connor Murtagh takes the ride and we’d expect him to win.
Last but not least we run two in the sportnation.bet Download iPhone App Nursery at 7.15.
Aurag has struggle a bit as he was allotted a high enough mark after his maiden win but he’s come down a few pounds now and Oakley Brown takes another seven off.
We’re claiming off Cognac Blue as well with Rhiain Ingram and this son of Mayson makes his nursery debut after running a promising race at Carlisle last time.
