Firstly a quick review of the Haggas runners on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They ran pretty much to plan aside from Magic Box who was disappointing and it looks like the form of her Yarmouth debut race is very poor.
The horse we backed More Thunder Won and we avoided some very well backed short price favourites. Waleefy 9/4 – 11/10 Unequal Love Evs, Merchant 2/1 – 11/10 plus Approval, Chorus and Power Fizz who all attracted support in handicaps.
There were 4 winners – the odds on shots National Park and Gold Cup Day who both found very soft races as was the case with Take A Breath who was able to win first time out as a 3yo in what i am sure was a very weak Doncaster handicap.
The other was Tsuki who won an average Goodwood maiden first time out beating into second place an odds on favourite in a time quicker than the Class 4 handicap winner of the next race over the same trip rated 81. The time suggests she can win off a mark of 90 which makes her a very interesting horse to follow – i think she will be rated 82.
Other weekend highlights Ed Walker and Ralph Beckett hitting top form as we forecast. Ed Walkers Sir Lowry’s Pass was really impressive at Goodwood and will potentially win a big handicap next time out.
Onto Monday
The 2025 jockeys title race kicked off on Saturday and we can anticipate a serious challenge from Tom Marquand fit and refreshed by a break down under in the winter months.
It’s going to throw up a few additional betting opportunities for us as the season progresses.
At this early stage I am going to get involved but keep stakes small until we see how things develop.
On Monday the pair head to Windsor. Tom Marquand has his first ever ride for Newmarket Trainer Simon Pearce on Forager in the 3.40 and everything looks right for the horse to go close on seasonal debut – drawn perfectly in stall 1 and well suited to firm ground, she could get an easy lead here and allow Marquand to make all.
The stable has had very few runners which is a bit of a worry but i don’t think Tom would be onboard if she wasn’t ready to go.
its 9/2 early doors but i want to wait until the market settles down in the morning – horses are well backed from this yard when fancied and i would rather take a lower price than risk see the filly drift badly.
Usually Jack Mitchell rides the fancied runners for Pearce ( they are close friends) but he is going to Kempton for one ride on the Simon Crisford trained Spitzbergen owned by Rabbaah Racing who split the rides 50-50 between Harry Davies and Jack Mitchell.
Davies is racing at Kempton and riding for the yard in later races – it has to be significant that Mitchell heads to Kempton for the one ride. He could also have got on a fancied Roger Varian runner at Windsor.
Early money for Spitzbergen 2.00 Kempton would be very interesting and is a possible bet.
Marquand has one ride for the Haggas team Scoville in the Windsor 2.05. The Too Darn Hot colt will have to run to a rating of near 90+ to beat the 85 rated favourite Vecu . This does look a weak contest apart from the favourite and he may be good enough – but as always we won’t know until he starts to race.
Marquand rides Skellig Isle for Tom Ward in the 4.05 but that looks to have a lot to do at the weights and is put in at 25/1.
Finally for Monday – Marquand and Murphy ride flip flopping favourites in the 5.25.
Murphy’s mount Golden Circet was originally put in as 13/8 favourite but has been replaced at the head of the market by Marquand’s ride on Kingkeer for Hughie Morrison backed from 2/1 into 15/8.
I am certain Murphy has had the choice here, he is riding for Morrison in the last race and Marquand has no ride.
Morrison’s horses have needed the run including a couple of gambles in handicaps. Marquand and Murphy both ride regularly for Morrison but Murphy is his No 1 go to jockey.
At those prices I will watch with intrigue but will be surprised if Golden Circet doesn’t go off favourite.
Summary Possible Bets to be confirmed tomorrow at 12 noon Monday
Spitzbergen 2.00 Kempton
Forager 3.40 Windsor
Chrysalis Consortium 
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