BETTING: It’s my biggest sponsored race day of the year at Haydock Park tomorrow and thankfully, after last year’s washout, the weather has relented just long enough in the build-up for the meeting to be on.
We had a few anxious moments with all the rain this week, but Haydock have saved a fresh strip of turf for the Betfred Sprint Cup (3.30) and I think conditions will be ideal for J J The Jet Plane.
I really fancied this ex-South African horse to win at Royal Ascot this summer but he could only finish fourth, and next time out he was third in the July Cup. The two horses that won those races, Art Connoisseur and Fleeting Spirit, renew their rivalry but there are good reasons for opposing both.
The form of the Ascot race looks very suspect for several horses did not produce their best that day, while Fleeting Spirit is suited by ground as fast as possible and she will not get that at Haydock.
J J The Jet Plane was tried over seven furlongs at Goodwood last time out but did not stay the trip, so again I feel he can reverse placings with opponents that finished ahead of him, namely Finjaan and Regal Parade. When you consider J J The Jet Plane is closely matched on form with Main Aim on Newmarket and Goodwood running, at 16/1 he looks great value compared to the 6/1 odds of that rival.
Trainer Richard Hannon, who recently took charge of J J, can complete a double with Emerald Commander, who was touched off by a potential top-notcher at York in Elusive Pimpernel but can go one better in the Text ‘Betfred’ To 83080 For Mobile Betting Stakes (4.35). I priced up most of the Haydock card earlier in the week but one race I avoided was the Betfred ‘Support The Harley Slack Fund’ Superior Mile (2.25) because running plans were so uncertain at the time. A field of 11 has been declared for a race I’ve named after a brave four-year-old boy from Stockport who had to have his arms and legs amputated due to meningitis. I have donated to the fund, I will do so again on Saturday and I hope as many racegoers as possible add to the collection that will be held at the track.
I’m sure many Wanderers fans will hope European Dream wins, for he is owned by the You Trotters group that includes former assistant manager Phil Brown, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Kevin Davies, but I’ve put him in as a 50/1 rank outsider.
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