Our top gossip column is back and expecting William Haggas to land Saturday's Hardwicke Stakes with a major improver.
2.30 Saturday - Masekela
MASEKELA can kick off the final day of the meeting on just the right note for Andrew Balding in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot on Saturday. The Kingsclere trainer made a flying start to the five day Festival when landing the Coventry Stakes with Berkshire Sapphire, and there is plenty of confidence behind this son of El Kabeir, who impressed on his debut at Goodwood last month. His subsequent work suggests he has come on for the run, and the fact the victory was achieved on easy ground, may stand him in good stead given the weather forecast.
3.40 Saturday - Ilaraab
ILARAAB has come a long way since landing his first handicap at Beverley last August and he can show he has the ability to cope at the highest level with victory in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. William Haggas will be delighted with the ease in the ground for the son of Wootton Bassett, who ran out a most emphatic winner of a handicap at the York May meeting on his reappearance. His subsequent work suggests that he will not be out of place against the likes of the well fancied Broome, Japan and Logician, and hopes are high he can make it six in a row.
6.10 Saturday - Stag Horn
STAG HORN has developed into a very smart stayer and he looks the value bet in the Queen Alexandra Stakes. Ground conditions are likely to be very testing for this marathon, but Stag Horn has shown his ability on several occasions, including a win over two and a quarter miles in the soft at Pontefract. This will take a deal more winning, but he looks open to more improvement, and will be sharper for his comeback run here seven weeks ago.
5.00 Saturday - Punchbowl Flyer
PUNCHBOWL FLYER is in a rich vein of form and he can defy a 5lb penalty in the Wokingham Stakes. Eve Johnson Houghton will be another trainer looking skyward and hoping the ground will continue to ease as the meeting nears its conclusion. The son of Dream Ahead is on a hat-trick after two wins on an easy surface, and two of his three successes last term came in the deep mud.
7.05 Haydock Saturday - Baikal
Away from the main action, Kevin Ryan runs a very interesting newcomer BAIKAL in the Novice at Haydock on Saturday evening, but whatever his fate, the very well bred Baby Alya can double her career tally in the Casumo Proud To Support British Racing Handicap. She was very unlucky at Newmarket last time, when she was denied a clear run in the closing stages.
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