17 line up for the listed Cecil Frail Stakes at Haydock on Friday but a lot of them are taking a chance in the hope of getting black type and it really concerns just 4.
The 3yo Half Sovereign attempts to prove she has trained on as a 3yo but is poorly drawn in stall 5 and will struggle from that draw in Soft Ground at Haydock Park.
The other 3 all ran in the Listed Ellen Chalanor Stakes at Newmarket – Rosy Affair, was 2nd having been just touched off by Lady of Bermuda, Magic Basma was just over 2l back in 4th with Sky Majesty a further length away in 6th.
I backed Sky Majesty in the belief that in listed grade she would get away with the fast conditions. It was a doubt shared by many and yet she was strongly supported into 10/3. The highest rated in the race was Lady of Bermuda who won despite drifting from 7/4 out to 7/2. Rosy Affair at 11/2 ran a cracking race making every yard bar the final few strides to be second beaten a hd. Magic Basma outran her odds of 22/1 to finish 4th.
On Friday all three are drawn high with Rosy Affair given pole position in stall 15 Magic Basma is in 12 and Sky Majesty in 11.
I am extremely confident Sky Majesty will reverse the form from Newmarket. She has always been considered a filly that is capable of winning Group races off marks nearer to 120 than her current mark of 108.
If it’s Haydock it has to be Haggas. The high strike rate at the track really kicks in during the second half of the season but the yards record in the listed contests in May and June is 50% over the last 5 years and that trend is another plus factor for Friday.
Everything about the Cecil Frail is perfectly set up for Sky Majesty I thought we might get 5/2-9/4 for the opening price but even at 2/1, she rates as a 3pt Bet.
Recommended Bet 3pt win Sky Majesty 2.55 Haydock Park.
Also at Haydock on Friday Tom Marquand takes the rides on Shadida in the maiden that opens the card at 1.45pm and on Oathbound in the handicap at 5.15pm
Shadida looked very backward and will need one or two more runs before being able to run to a level that can win races. Oathbound will probably attract support in the finale based on the fact that he is a Haggas trained colt moving into handicap company for the first time.
As all we know Haggas is a master target trainer and excels at Haydock but it is very relevant to look at the time of year. In April May his record in 3yo handicaps at the track is 2-16 both wins last season by Maelstrom who was a handicap snip after winning at Yarmouth.
The last Somerville Lodge 3yo to win at the track first time in handicap company was Soulcombe at the end of June 2022
The form of his previous runs and those trends steer me away from backing Oathbound.
No Bets Recommended
Over at Goodwood it is relatively unusual for Haggas to run two in a handicap but that is the case on Friday in the 12f Fillies handicap at 3.42. Ceiren Fallon has chosen Orionis and Harry Davies takes the ride on Time Loop.
Both fillies run off career high marks and will benefit from the outing. The race will centre around the Beckett 3yo Venetia who could be thrown in off 81. I will watch the Somerville Lodge pair with a view to future meeting opportunities.
The only horse this season from the yard that has Won that I regretted not backing ( there will be plenty more) was Yabher who bolted up at Goodwood off a mark of 92.
Orionis races of 90 but probably doesn’t have as much scope to improve as Yabher and her campaign may be centered on getting black type after her debut run on Friday.
No Bet Recommended
The final runner on Friday is Madrisa who attempts to defy a penalty in the restricted novice stakes at Bath. The form of her surprise Lingfield win has taken several knocks. It is of course possibly that this is also a poor race and she may win again. Hollie Doyle takes the ride but the odds will be short enough and I am happy to watch without a financial interest,
Madrisa Bath 2.43 No recommended Bet
Sky Majesty to good for Listed rivals Friday
Chrysalis Consortium 
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