The Haggas team are in excellent form and running to expectations and when not, for predictable reasons ( Lake Forest ).
The first week in July will be fairly quiet in the build up to Eclipse weekend and then The Newmarket July meeting and the Magnet Cup card at York next week.
However there are a couple of stable stalwarts out on Monday that are worthy of note.
Elmonjed runs in the 7.15 at Windsor the Fitzdares sprint series qualifier for the final which he won in August 2024.
Last years race was at the end of July and the gelding although drawn low wasn’t given a hard race off a slow pace eventually finishing 4th – it set him up for the final two weeks later, which he won off a mark of 89.
He is now up to a mark of 96 but his two runs this season in 6f races represent top class handicap form at the trip suggest he has still scope to win more handicaps this season.
First time out in Newmarket he ran really well to be 4th behind stable mate More Thunder. Future winners More Thunder, Aramram, Probe, Dark Thirty, Twilight Romance and Trefor all contested that race and it continues to be a key to many 6f handicaps.
On his only other start he was 4th again unable to reverse the form with the ultra tough Aramram but unsuited by the easy lead and slow pace given to Run Boy Run. He finished in front of Completely Random who along with Run Boy Run went onto run really big races in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot.
In front of Elmonjed was Indian Run who re-opposes in this race on identical terms and subversively is the mount of Tom Marquand.
With the final not until mid August this doesn’t have the look of a prep for a repeat attempt.
Elmonjed ideally needs a strong pace and a big field to be seen at his best and gets neither here and has a bad draw in 7
The rival that takes my eye is Grand Karat the mount of Oisin Murphy for Harry Charlton. The yards horses have ran really well in sprint handicaps over the past fortnight and although stepping down in trip at the early price of 10/1 he looks the value in a race where the pace is likely to be weak for the grade, which is against Elmonjed and Indian Run who though has the plum draw in Stall 1.
I do think we will be backing Elmonjed this season when conditions are right but that is not the case on Monday especially at the skinny price of 9/4 on offer. Last season he needed 3 outings before winning I think that will be the case again this year and he will be of interest in his next race.
No Bet Recommended
Approval has only beaten 4 horses of the 27 he has come up against in his 3 starts this season and has only been dropped 2lb by the handicapper.
In each case he has been the subject of support ( not by us ) and as the data suggests has ran abysmally. The fact that he is put in as second favourite behind the improving 3yo Dantes Lad , who brings high quality 3yo handicap form to the table, only emphasises the chances of the Boughey favourite who for those of you that like short ones could be good value at 13/8.
Hopefully the handicapper will drop Approval again in the ratings – if he runs to a similar level to his first 3 outings this season he can’t win this off his current mark.
However his career kicked off with a win over this course and distance 12 months ago. He is 7lb higher in the weights on Monday and i expect him to show a glimpse of last season’s form which will set him up for a return to Goodwood and a possible repeat of his win at the August meeting in 2024.
No Bet Recommended
There are 4 novices heading to post on Monday.
Finalise makes her long awaited debut at Fflos Las in the 2.15. She is related to horses that need 12f plus to be seen at their best but as always watch and note on her first outing.
Haggas should have two winners on the day. In the the 3.00 Pontefract he has two of the six in the race – Wujjood and Magical Idea head to post.
Logic says the market will lean towards Magical Idea who Sean Foley travels to Pontefract for one ride on the day for the owner who retains him. But Wujjood has been put in at 2/1 Magical Idea is a tempting 3/1.
We have come unstuck with two or three bets in Novice and Maiden races this month where the early money has been for the Haggas horse who has then drifted markedly near the off as there has been a big plunge on another of the leading market rivals. On Saturday when we didn’t get involved it was a stable mate Tenability who was supported against the early mover Magic Box. Significantly in each race there has been a proper gallop from the outset.
Also very likely to go off favourite will be Headmaster in the Windsor 6.45. This son of Dubawi out of the yards Group 1 winning mare One Master ran a race full of promise on his debut at Lingfield.
If you fancy a bet in these races i suggest you back the horse in the 3.00 Pontefract that attracts support close to the off and then follow the same policy in the Windsor 6.45.
I have a hunch the stable will win both races but with so much relying on late market support no recommended bets on the Diary of the Season account but good luck if you play in these races.
Diary of Season
No Bet Recommended Monday 30th June 2025
Plus Confirmation NO Bet Recommended Tuesday July 1st 2025
Chrysalis Consortium 
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