This is our first weekly review of 2025, focusing on the runners for the week ahead from the Haggas yard and review of the previous weeks recommended bets.
Firstly, during the first quarter of the year, we tend to err on the side of caution and may miss a few winners.
Generally, the yard is quiet on the all-weather (AW) in January, February and March. Last year, they sent out just 4 winners from 35 runners, which was their worst performance since 2020, when there were just 2 winners from 37 runners.
The best year in recent times was 2017, when the yard sent out a remarkable 12 winners from just 20 runners.
The early signs this year suggest they will better last year’s record, which failed to achieve a 10% strike rate of winners to runners. Our first bet of the year was on Saturday with Art Market, who disappointed by finishing second at Southwell despite being backed from 2/1 into 13/8.
The yard sent out two of the five runners, and we anticipated a strong pace with two confirmed frontrunners, including stablemate Choreographic and Misty Sky, ridden by the in-form Hector Crouch.
To our surprise, apprentice Harry Burns tucked in behind Misty Sky, giving Crouch a soft lead and failing to help Art Market, ridden by Adam Faragher who didn’t settle.
Unsurprisingly, Art Market was positioned too far back as Misty Sky quickened the pace two furlongs out, leaving Art Market unable to make up the ground, finishing second, beaten by one and a half lengths.
Entries This Week
This week, the yard has four entries between Monday and Thursday, beginning with Brewing in a 7F Class 2 handicap at Wolverhampton, due off at 6:30.
The six-year-old was one of the yard’s AW winners last winter, winning a Class 2 event at Kempton impressively, having been backed from 9/4 into 13/8 off a mark of 93. He didn’t race again after that victory until September and has been generally disappointing, running five times since.
Although third at Chelmsford, the gelding’s best run was here at Wolverhampton when he finished fourth after being held up from a wide draw. Beaten a length by the useful Yorkshire, it was a strong indicator that more races could be won in 2025.
On Monday, he races off a mark of 94 and is fitted with blinkers for the first time. Drawn in stall 7, he looks to have a reasonable chance, especially if the blinkers bring about improvement.
From a betting perspective, though, caution is advised. The three main considerations we use to assess betting opportunities are 1. Class 2. Pace and 3. Track position and condition.
Brewing is well up to winning a Class 2 handicap on the AW and he is performed at or close to his best at the track. The draw could be better especially as there is potentially no strong pace in the race.
Havanaagreattime is likely to get a soft lead and dictate the fractions without having to go fast in the early stages. This could favour the two main market rivals Royal Zabeel and Bobby Beanu, both of whom have won when racing prominently in steadily run races. By contrast, Brewing’s best performances have come in races run at moderate to fast pace.
Predicted Race Outcome
I expect Havanaagreattime to lead early and to be run down by either or both Bobby Beanu or Royal Zabeel inside the final furlong. Brewing will be delivered from behind these three and arrive late on but too late to claim victory. The blinkers if they sharpen him up and also get him to settle could make the difference and bring about enough improvement for the gelding to win, but at 7/2 and given the make up of the race, which favour the main market leaders, I will watch with interest without financial involvement.
Recommendation:
BREWING – 6:30 Wolverhampton – NO BET
Race review – we got this right in terms of reading the race and the anticipated performance of Brewing. However I think this is form to follow. The final 2f looked to be very strong and both the winner Royal Zabeel and the second placed Society Man look well worth following. Billy Beanu ran his race and although the blinkers didn’t work for Brewing I suspect this was a hot race and the gelding could still find a race in the weeks ahead.
Wednesday 8th January
Last weeks two runners up Seconds Count and Art Market have entries but both are highly unlikely starters – however Thursday potentially sees the next outing of Carbine Harvester who is entered in a 6F handicap at Lingfield where the improving 3yo colt will carry a 6lb penalty. A detailed analysis of the race will follow on Wednesday.
Chrysalis Consortium 
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