Al Aasy looks a strong contender at the top of the betting for the team of William Haggas and Jim Crowley this weekend. The six-year-old bounced back to winning ways at Newbury on his previous start, landing the Bet365 Stakes over a mile and two.
That was an encouraging return to form after finishing fifth, and 25 lengths behind Kemari on his seasonal reappearance in July over a mile and four. The six-year-old is proven at this level, and holds extremely strong claims at Haydock this weekend.
El Drama makes his first start since switching from the Roger Varian stable to Karl Burke on Saturday. The five-year-old was last seen in June, finishing fourth of five in the Ganton Stakes over a mile.
He was also fourth in the William Hill Festival Stakes over a mile and two at Goodwood earlier in the season. Recent disappointments now mean that his winless streak has extended to ten races, and it appears hard to make a case for the Clifford Lee ride.
King Of Conquest lines up at Haydock this weekend after finishing a decent sixth of 16 in the Wolferton Stakes at Ascot in June.
The four-year-old has already won on two occasions this season, with the latest of those coming over a mile and two at Goodwood in the William Hill Festival Stakes.
James Doyle rode the Godolphin runner on that day, and he retains the ride for the Group 3 this weekend. He’s likely to be the biggest danger to the market favourite.
| Date | Course | Distance | Type | Weight | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/11/23 | NMK | 12 | Hy | 9-6 | 3 |
| 27/09/23 | GOO | 10 | Sft | 9-7 | 2 |
| 12/08/23 | HAY | 10.5 | GS | 9-7 | 4 |
| 20/06/23 | ASC | 10 | Gd | 9-8 | 6 |
| 27/05/23 | GOO | 10 | GF | 9-3 | 1 |
Sean Woods-trained Savvy Victory is among the most progressive runners in this field, and he holds extremely strong claims this weekend.
He fell short in back-to-back handicaps at Epsom and Ascot in June, but showed an excellent return to winning ways over a mile and two at Sandown on his previous start.
He travelled excellently to win the Gala Stakes by two and a quarter lengths from Poker Face, and he also has form on soft ground after finishing a close second behind Pride of America in a handicap at Chester in May. He’s a big chance for Andrea Atzeni.
America raider Classic Causeway has remained in the UK since finishing last of six at Royal Ascot in the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes in June.
He didn’t show much sign of improvement over a mile on his latest start, finishing 24 lengths behind Master of the Seas in the G2 Summer Mile Stakes.
The Kenneth McPeek-trained runner is without a win since his shock victory over Nations Pride in the G1 Belmont Derby last year, and Jason Hart takes the ride this weekend.
Phantom Flight is the runner for James Horton this weekend. P J McDonald will take the ride on the four-year-old, who was last seen finishing a length and a half behind Al Aasy in the Bet365 Stakes at Newbury.
He also has form to find on King Of Conquest after finishing two and a half lengths behind his reappearing rival in the William Hill Festival Stakes at the end of July. Big ask.
Midnight Mile is the only filly in the race this weekend, meaning that she receives weight from all her rivals. The Richard Fahey runner was excellent at York on her previous appearance, as he landed the Lyric Fillies’ Stakes by over two lengths from Mukaddamah.
That was a fine return to form after finishing 13th in the G2 Ribblesdale and fourth behind Soul Sister in the G3 Musidora. She’s not without a chance for Oisin Orr.
