Alan Thomson’s Tips: Zip Zip hooray for Zubayr at Haydock

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ZUBAYR (1.55) has made a seamless switch to the flat from hurdling and can continue the good work for Paul and Megan Nicholls in the opener at Haydock.

Pipped by Chesterfield in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in April, Zubayr went on to land a 1m 4f handicap at Kempton before running into Ebor Handicap fancy Gibbs Hill on a return trip to the same track. Megan was shown to good effect on Omotesando at Haydock last night and she has a cool head on young shoulders.

Tapis Libre should go well for Joanna Mason having edged out Whinging Willie in the Ladies’ Derby at Epsom and landing the Queen Mother’s Cup at York. Third horse Azari is entitled to finish a bit closer on 3lb better terms.

FRANKUUS (2.30) is a bit more speculative but he benefited from the application of blinkers when running second to Defoe in the Glasgow Stakes at Hamilton and is trading at tasty ew odds in the Betfred Rose Of Lancaster Stakes.

Roger Varian’s winner is being talked up as a serious St Leger contender and Frankuus had William Haggas’s unexposed Call To Mind well held in third. Joe Fanning set a searching gallop on Frankuus and similar forcing tactics can have a few of his rivals in trouble early in the straight.

Spark Plug holds a verdict over Frankuus at Sandown in July but that came on very quick ground. Frankel’s son may edge it this time.

Laraaib is unbeaten in three starts for Owen Burrows and his defeat of Atty Perse over course and distance on his second appearance puts him in with a big shout.

Larchmont Lad’s fourth to Beat The Bank is another piece of solid form and the three-year-old brigade could well dominate over well fancied Autocratic. Sir Michael Stoute’s colt hasn’t been seen since landing the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown in May.

Ascot’s Shergar Cup and all its attendant international hoopla isn’t for every punter but NIBLAWI (2.15) should give backers a good spin in the Shergar Cup Challenge.

Canadian Emma Jayne Wilson has created a big impression on her regular forays across the Atlantic for this meeting and Niblawi will surely enjoy a better trip than on his last visit to Ascot when trapped very wide (stall 15) for most of that 1m 4f handicap.

Neil Mulholland’s gelding still had enough in reserve to give Godolphin hot-pot Royal Associate a scare and although the draw has again been unkind, I’m hopeful Niblawi can be found a bit of cover by his talented rider.

Gawdawpalin ended a long drought when seeing off Red Galileo and King Bolete here a fortnight ago and Sylvester Kirk’s gelding should go well under Jamie Spencer.

At Newmarket, ANYTHINGTODAY (3.05) can complete his hat-trick under a 6lb penalty for Wednesday’s comfortable Bath success.

Hugo Palmer’s three-year-old briefly looked in a little trouble early in straight but once his stamina kicked in on the soft ground it was all over bar the shouting.

Andrew Balding’s Atkinson Grimshaw receives a stone from the selection and finished an excellent third to Marzouq and Oasis Charm in a competitive Class 2 handicap at HQ.

WAR GLORY (4.15) is worth an interest on the back of his third in the Goodwood mud and, more significantly perhaps, his run behind handicap snip Parfait at Newmarket in mid-July.

There was a distinct track bias along the stands’ rail, which was bagged by Parfait, and War Glory was forced to deliver his challenge wide on probably the slowest part of the track. I’ll be having a solid ew bet.

At Ayr this evening, MAULESDEN MAY (7.50) can continue the good run of Keith Dalgleish having been handed a lenient-looking 2lb rise for beating Gworn here last month. This is another tough ask but it often pays to follow an improving filly. Good ground is ideal.

Marjorie Fife’s Broadway Dreams has had three runs, chasing home Dalgleish’s Starplex at Hamilton, with one of tonight’s rivals Somnambulist fading into fifth. Third horse Torcello, trained by Andrew Balding, landed a Salisbury maiden next time, while Starplex was just denied by Indy at Haydock on Thursday off a mark of 77. He is an interesting handicap debutant.

Iain Jardine is another Scottish trainer in rampant form but the handicapper may have just got to grips with his recent all-weather scorer Archipeligo. Snookered finally came good at Beverley but has a bit to do in my book following his 5lb rise.

Recommendations

• HAYDOCK – ZUBAYR (1.55) 11-4 (bet365)
• HAYDOCK – FRANKUUS (2.30 ew) 9-1 (William Hill)
• ASCOT – NIBLAWI (2.15) 4-1 (Betfred)
• NEWMARKET – ANYTHINGTODAY (3.05) 5-2 (McBookie)
• NEWMARKET – WAR GLORY (4.15 ew) 5-1 (McBookie)
• AYR – MAULESDEN MAY (7.50) 4-1 (Paddy Power)

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