Fashion's Fancy got the job done for Billy Loughnane and was sent off as the strong favourite at Haydock.
I didn't expect there to be that much money on Fashion's Fancy, but she managed to secure the win by being gutsy. The win always looked nailed on a few furlongs from home, but she didn't do it with ease.
St Mawes was far too keen in his race, like he was last time out. He took a strong pull for the majority of the race and still managed to finish second. I think Sean Levey was ridiculously weak in the saddle, and a stronger ride would have got him over the line in first place.
Venetian Sun 9/4 (2pt) – Haydock 2.58
It was totally understandable for connections to try their luck in the 1000 Guineas with Venetian Sun, but she has always looked like a speedster, so it wasn't a surprise that she didn't stay the trip.
In all fairness, she didn't run that badly, but the finishing position of 11th will always read more negative than positive. She was making headway, but the stiff nature of Newmarket and the mile trip was too much for her. I think that the 1000 Guineas was a hot race, and the winner could be a very smart horse, so being 6L behind isn't a bad effort for a sprinter.
Based on her juvenile form, you've got to say that Venetian Sun is the one to beat in this race. She was a Group 1 winner against the boys in Deauville, where she was many lengths ahead of Coppull. If she has trained on, which I think she has, she could take some serious stopping now she's back at a sprint trip.
Stem 3/1 (1pt) – Haydock 5.15
I am trying to take a different approach to things, and that's by avoiding big field races, unless it's at the big meetings. However, I thought Stem was an interesting horse at a reasonable price as a favourite in the final race at Haydock.
Jockey booking instantly makes this look like a bad price, as Sean Levey isn't on him and rides for a different trainer. I backed this horse on his first run last season when Sean was on board, and I thought he gave him a really bad ride. It turns out that the owners hasn't booked him on this horse since, and he hasn't ridden for the owners for a long time. So maybe the jockey bookings aren't a big deal.
Anyway, Stem has always hinted at being a good horse, and last time out was a nice return to racing in a good race. He was ninth in a competitive Newbury handicap, which has seen the runner-up win since, and a couple of others have run well.
I refuse to believe that we've seen the best of him, and a handicap mark of 89 has to be within reach. This is a fifteen-runner field, so it could get messy from a wide draw, but I put trust in Jason Watson.
Bridge Of Eagles 11/4 (1pt) – York 4.25
David Menuisier is a trainer who goes under the radar, and he does well when he travels to tracks which aren't the closest to his yard.
Bridge Of Eagles didn't put in a vintage display at Goodwood, but he got the job done, and that is all that matters. Sometimes, the horses who win by small margins are the ones to follow, as their handicap mark won't take a battering for every win they get.
This is a step up in grade for my selection, but there's no obvious reason why he can't get the job done. He is still unexposed as a middle-distance horse, and the form of his win last time out looks quite good for a Class 5. The runner-up has since won at Windsor, beating some in-form horses.
GambleAware