Top Drawer on Friday

It’s only on a couple of occasions each season that a 2yo comes along that suggests they are out of the top drawer.

In 2023 City of Troy and in 2024 Lake Victoria put themselves in that category with victory’s in Group races at Newmarket in the Autumn and I fully expect Touleen to do likewise in the Rockfel Stakes. The Rockfel is only a Group 2 and i expect her to become the highest rated winner of this race this century

We have backed her at 9/4 for this race and also at 20/1 for next years 1,000 Guineas. If she wins as expected Friday she will be a lot shorter.

Recommended Bets

Already Advised: 3pt win Touleen 9/4 Newmarket 2.25 Friday

1pt win 20/1 2026 1,000 Guineas.

The 3 short priced Haggas ‘good things’ all Won on Thursday the surprising drift on Maltese Cross to 13/8 hopefully was enough for some of you to get involved.

The Haggas team send six to post on Friday. The unraced pair Creative Queen in the 6.00 Newcastle and Surprise Rally in the 7.00 are in small field maidens. But whatever the circumstances the golden rule of never backing an unraced Haggas trained horse still applies.

No Bet Recommended

Another unraced 2yo Adamlyi runs in the 4.10 Newmarket same rule.

No Bet Recommended

In the Newmarket 1.50 Chorus looks to return to some form after disappointing in her last 4 runs. Maybe she is an Autumn filly but this is a tough race even at her best and not even the 25/1 available can tempt me in.

No Bet Recommended

The most interesting runner from the Haggas yard on Friday is Klassleader who lines up in his handicap in the 5.10 Haydock, over a trip of 1m6f . This son of Lope De Vaga out of a group winning mare Klassique is highly regarded at the yard but has needed time to strengthen into his big frame.

His maiden win at Ffos Las suggested he is going the right way and the form of his narrow second behind Gran Descans was given a big boost by Chico Magnifico beaten over 8l winning off a handicap mark of 79.

This is a tough race where all six of the runners have solid claims and I expect we will see a gamble on Sing Us A Song. Despite some pundits claiming the opposite its been a very average season for the Beckett yard and although just through sheer numbers they have had limited success, it has generally paid to oppose their fancied runners even when heavily supported.

Klassleader, is very much a horse to follow as a 4yo next season. The Haggas record at Haydock in 1m6F handicaps with 3 and 4 yo’s is 9 from 20 in September and October and such is the potential of Klassleader he may well be able to win this very competitive handicap.

The problem is the ground which although Heavy on Sunday by Thursday it was Good to Soft and it is likely to be Good by the time of the race Friday afternoon with another dry sunny day forecast.

Had it remained Soft he would be a potential 3pt bet but the ground has ridden faster than forecast all season at this track and whilst i was really looking forward to getting stuck in we got caught out by Finalise on Wednesday when the ground was Good instead of soft by the time of the race. The price for Klassleader of 3/1 is not generous especially with no Soft in the going description.

No Bet Recommended