ITV Sunday Curragh And Haydock Preview

The first race of the day at Haydock and ITV on Sunday is the Class 4 Handicap over 5f and Be Proud for Jim Goldie looks to have a huge chance at a nice price.

The five year old gelding has been a decent horse over the years for the yard and although near the top of his mark seems to still be improving.

Having won at Ayr in June, he was then bumped up to a mark of 81 and 80 and slightly struggled over 5f and 7f, however he bounced back to form last time out when a superb fifth of 25 at Glorious Goodwood on soft behind the progressive Mr Wagyu.

That run came on soft ground off a mark of 81 and with him set to get the same conditions in this event which looks slightly easier and also off a 2lb lower mark, he is the one to be on.

The feature race of the afternoon at The Curragh is the Group One Phoenix Stakes for two year olds over six furlongs and the British raider Go Bears Go will take some beating.

The son of Kodi Bear has been a superstar for the David Loughnane yard this term, racing three times and going on to land two of them, whilst placing in another valuable race.

He made an emphatic debut over 5f at Ascot on soft ground getting off the mark at the first time of asking, with the horses in behind him since winning races.

Loughnane then sent him back over the same course and distance at Royal Ascot in the Group Two Norfolk Stakes and although running a cracker he finished a head third to the smart Perfect Power.

Kept at Group Two level Go bears Go was last seen winning the Railway Stakes over course and distance at The Curragh and with the plan being this race for a while we can't see past him.

Extremely progressive.

Next up on ITV is the Class 4 Handicap over six furlongs and Ghathanfar for Tracy Waggott looks extremely consistent and that might be the angle into the race.

The five year old made a winning turf seasonal debut at Redcar in April and then went on to finish second in his next three events on good on soft ground.

On his penultimate start he was a good fourth at Pontefract when up in grade and the first and third have since franked that form.

Ghathanfar was last seen a 19 runner handicap at York finishing third and that race has seen the first (Capote's Dream) and second (Mr Wagyu) since go one and win.

He holds leading form claims off only 2lb higher.

The Nursery Handicap over seven furlongs sees some nice youngsters head to post and the one that catches the eye is the Karl Burke trained Liamarty Dreams.

The two year old has been seen three times in his career to date and has made big strides forward everytime he has turned up to the track.

He made his debut in May at Carlisle and was a good second behind the Kevin Ryan trained Aleezdancer, who has since gone on to frank the form.

The colt was then sent to Nottingham where he was another close up third, but last time out he gave the best run of his career when landing a Maiden in taking style at Newcastle on the all weather.

That was his first start at seven furlongs and making his handicap debut today off a mark of 80 leaves him with room to improve again.

A Fillies' Handicap over a mile comes next and it sees us go with one of our best fancies of the day with Star Seeking for Sir Michael Stoute making his handicap debut.

The daughter of Gleneagles has a superb pedigree and on both her starts to date has shown big ability, winning her only start as a juvenile and finishing a nice second on seasonal debut this term.

His latest second at Nottingham over 8.5f saw him just behind the smart Sweet Believer for William Haggas who has since gone on to frank the form.

Now making her handicap debut off a mark of 85 she looks one to watch, with this owner having a runner with Stoute another thing to note.

The penultimate event of the afternoon at Haydock is the Middle Distance Handicap over 1m2f and we are siding with lowly weighted Fairmac.

The Mark Johnston trained gelding is a typical gritty horse for the yard that has consistently performed all season handling both good and soft ground.

Moving through the handicap this season the progressive gelding won at Ayr over 10f off a mark of 77 and then last time out on good to soft ground at Chester was a solid second off 4lb higher.

Only up another 1lb for that run keeps him in the mix, getting weight off most of this field.

The final event on ITV this Sunday sees the Stayers Handicap over two miles and Ghadbbaan for Brian Ellison looks to have a big chance.

The five year old has been a consistent performer between todays trip and 12f this season, winning at Thirsk in May over 14f and since then knocking on the door in similar events off a mark of 65.

Two starts ago at York he was a close second in the John Smith's Stayers Handicap and off only 2lb over the same course and distance he again was a taking second.

Only up another 1lb for this event he can't be overlooked, with good or soft ground perfect for him.