The 3 runners sent out from Somerville Lodge on Bank Holiday Monday typified why we will not advise bets on William Haggas Novices and Maidens this season.
The first two at Kempton were ‘apparently’ supported into favoritism, only to run in a manner that is common for inexperienced horses from the yard. The filly Creative Queen was slowly away and still very green but did finish off her race, albeit one paced. She still looked unfurnished in the paddock and I expect it will be late summer before we see her fulfill her potential.
Guesstimate, who had two previous runs, exploded from the gates and was then far to fresh and was washed out inside the final furlong and fell away to finish last.
Caraway started in a handicap for the first time in Class 6 wearing a hood, he looked slow and will need to show marked improvement on the turf to get a win under his belt.
There is no hiding the fact that all were relatively disappointing and are a long way from getting wins in their book.
Whilst sticking to the ‘No Bet Novice Rule’ I strongly believe much better will be seen from Infraad in the Novice Stakes that opens the Nottingham card at 1.17. The conditions of the race mean he can run off 8’11, and he will certainly be towards the front of the market. By the rising star stallion Ghaiyyath out of a listed winning mare he looks every inch a future 90+ rated colt over staying distances. Although unlikely to take up his Derby entry this is just the sort Haggas excels with and he looks a horse with every chance of a high level of success in 2026.
The yard’s other two entries on Wednesday are also of interest based on stable trends and breeding.
Keep it Classic was too immature to show much in 3yo races as a 2yo and has been gelded ahead of his 3yo debut in the 2.48 at Catterick.
Trend followers will be interested in backing this horse because since 2013 from 13 Haggas trained runners in Catterick Maiden and Novice races there have been a remarkable 9 winners. Two of the four losers were the only horses to be sent off at odds bigger than 3/1 – I expect Keep it Classic to be the third – which removes any temptation to back him.
Finally, at Kempton the beautifully bred Romanticizing makes his debut from a bad draw in the 1 mile maiden at 5.30. By Sea the Stars out of the Group 3 winner Heaven Sent he is bred to be useful, and his debut performance is of considerable interest.
No runners on Thursday but from Friday the yard gets into full swing with our potential next early price gamble expected to take place over the weekend.
Chrysalis Consortium 
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