Listed Achilles Stakes Haydock Guide 2023

Robert Cowell sends two runners to this Haydock contest in the form of Clarendon House and Arecibo. The latter arrives here as the market outsider, having finished eighth in the Listed Sole Power Sprint Stakes at Naas last month. He hasn’t won since winning a class two at Newmarket back in 2021 and despite placing a couple of times in C2 events at Lingfield and Pontefract, he has been unable to make his mark at this level.

The eight-year-old is less preferred to others here and would be a surprising winner. Marco Ghiani is booked to ride.

Charles Hills sends one to the Listed Achilles Stakes in the form of Equilateral. The eight-year-old arrives at Haydock on the back of finishing second in the Group Two Temple Stakes here last month, a length behind winner Dramatised. He hasn’t won since winning twice in a row at Meydan in 2021 over five furlongs on both occasions but finishes of third in Curragh group two and fourth in a group three at Meydan since then bode well for here.

Moves back down into listed company here and should be in the mix if all goes well. The in-form Frankie Dettori takes the ride.

Michael Appleby sends one to this listed event at Haydock with his six-year-old Raasel. The gelding is winless since claiming victory in the Group Three Coral Charge at Sandown back in July last year, but has posted a number of good efforts since, most notably finishing second in the Group Two King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood and fourth in the Group Three Palace House Stakes at Newmarket last month.

Moving down into listed company should help his chances and it would be no surprise to see him go well here. James Doyle is booked to ride.

Scott Dixon sends one of his horses to the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock in the form of Fine Wine. The six-year-old makes his first foray into this sort of company in his career, after winning three of his last seven races at York, Southwell and Newcastle. Since that Newcastle victory in December, he has finished second at Southwell, seventh at Newcastle and third at York before heading here for a first shot at listed glory.

The gelding can give it a go here and be involved and much like others, he isn’t dismissed. Patrick McDonald is booked to ride.

Antony Brittain sends one runner to this Haydock event on Saturday with Mondammej. The six-year-old hasn’t won since 2021, a year where he won five times after being heavily raced that term. Has been in ok form since, recording place finishes in a number of races, including second in the Listed City Walls Stakes at York last July and third in the Listed Cammidge Trophy Stakes at Doncaster last term as well.

This will be tougher than what he’s faced recently (running mainly at C2 level) and while not completely out of it, he would be a surprising winner. Others make more appeal. Cam Hardie will do the steering.

Robert Cowell sends two runners to this contest at Haydock in the form of Arecibo and Clarendon House. The latter hasn’t won since winning class three race at Beverley back in June last year, and hasn’t really made a mark in this sort of company, with a sixth-place finish in the Group Two King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood the best it gets at this sort of level. Arrives here on the back of finishing third in a class two handicap at Epsom Downs earlier this month.

Not completely dismissed in this, like a lot of the runners but needs to improve on previous showing if challenging for victory in this.

Edward Bethell sends one to this contest at Haydock on Saturday in the shape of Regional. The five-year-old comes here on the back of finishing first in a class two handicap at York last month, which was his first win since 2021. Is yet to run in this sort of company since a couple of efforts back in 2020 but has shown some decent form at class two level in recent times and looks well set for a go in listed company here.

The gelding should be well in with a chance of winning back-to-back races here. Callum Rodriguez is booked to ride.

Karl Burke boasts one in the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock on Saturday with his four-year-old Korker. The gelding has been inconsistent in 2023, finishing tenth in the Group Three Palace House Stakes, second in a class two handicap at York and 11th in another class two handicap at York. He also hasn’t won since winning at that course last May at a lower level than this but can be a solid performer when everything falls into place.

He's one to consider, especially if things can go right for him otherwise others make more appeal here.

Ed Walker boasts one runner in the Listed Achilles Stakes with four-year-old Makarova. She won a couple of times last year, in C5 events at Salisbury both times and at the latter end of 2022 and early 2023, stepped into listed company on her last three outings. The filly has recorded decent finishes of fifth, sixth and second at Newmarket (twice) and here at Haydock but has more improving to do if she’s to figure in this contest.

The 93-rated runner has work to do here out of fillies’ and mares’ listed company. One of the less likely winners of this.

Keith Dalgleish sends one of his runners to the Achilles Stakes at Haydock with Prince Of Pillo. The three-year-old is one of the younger horses here but has been in decent form of late, winning three times in his first six runs at Ayr (twice) and Ripon. The second Ayr success came in the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes and he was last seen on the track finishing third in a group three at Newmarket last October, behind Maylandsea and Rumstar.

He still has more improving to do and plenty more potential should be fulfilled, so he is another here that has a chance. Ryan Moore will do the steering.