Monday 4 timer to kick start week for Haggas team.

A very busy week starts with 4 betting opportunities including 2 x 3pt Bets.

I fully expect Almaraq to win the Ayr Gold Cup trial at 3.30 and put himself in pole position to win the Gold Cup proper back here in September.

The 3yo has got the plum draw in stall 1 and with further rain forecast will get the ease in the ground required to show his best. He has been entered in Group 1 races all season and still holds a Betfair Sprint entry at Haydock

His only outing this term at Yarmouth in a race ran at a dawdle through the first half he couldn’t give 7lb to Spy Chief and was beaten 5L albeit given an easy time on ground too fast and on his first run for over 300 days.

That form looks much better now with the winner now rated 106 going on to finish 2nd in the Jersey Stakes and then seventh beaten just over 2l in the Group 1 July Stakes.

A literal reading of the form means Almeraq is thrown in here of a mark of 90 and despite the large field i dont see any dangers especially with the draw in stall 1 alongside the likely pace setter in Stall 2.

The booking of Clifford Lee is a huge positive he is 2 from 4 the yard and this will be his first ride for Shadwell Estates. The 3yo has been backed from 5/2 into 6/5 this morning.

We have had a low key frustrating July but on Monday it’s time for the excuses to end and get on a winning run through to the end of the month.

Recommended Bet 3pt win Almaraq 3.30 Ayr Monday

There is equal confidence behind Mukhtalif in the Windsor Maiden at 6.40 in another big field of 16.

Also owned by Shadwell Estates the 3yo faces several horses from top yards including stable mate Golden Horse the mount of Tom Marquand but Mukhtalif looks like a horse with a big future and is one to follow for the rest of the season.

The big field could lead to some juicy early prices and he is a confident 3pt win bet. The 3yo has been backed from 13/8 into 8/11 this morning.

Recommended Bet 3pt win Mukhtalif 6.40 Windsor

Also at Windsor in the Nursery at 17.10 I can’t let Luminare go off unbacked on stable debut. He is an intriguing addition to the yard having moved from Ollie Sansgter’s yard last week having been bought by Rabbah Bloodstock at the July Tatterstalls sales for 105,000 guineas.

The sellers were the Tabor’s who had the purchased the horse as a yearling for 100,000 guineas.

Haggas has a good record with top weights in Nursery’s and the mark of 75 could greatly under estimate her. She is a full sister to Ribhi who won twice as a juvenile and achieved a rating of 101.

The reason for her sale, the purchase by such high profile operators and especially the quick outing after joining the yard provide an intriguing puzzle.

The market may well be informative but unless she is a big drifter before 12.00 noon i am going to have a small interest.

Recommended Bet 1pt win Luminare 6.10 Windsor

In the 7.40 at Windsor Purple Rainbow looks to get back on track in the Class 4 10f handicap after disappointing in the Sandringham at the Royal meeting. She was heavily supported at Ascot and Warren Fentiman was booked to take off 5lb.

However a 1m on fast ground always looked likely to be a tall order for this daughter of Daphne who won at trips up to 1m5f . Down in grade, up in trip and on genuine good ground will all be more within her reach and she can be a second winner from the yard for the King in the space of 72 hours.

Recommended Bet 1pt win Purple Rainbow 7.40 Windsor

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