UK racing tips – Saturday 10 June 2023

HAYDOCK

Race 2 – RAATEA 6/1

NOMADIC EMPIRE is worth a second glance because David O’Meara has a good record in this race and he is dropping in grade.

A place looks possible, but if RAATEA takes to first-time cheekpieces, he could shock them all with the faster ground in his favour and following a fifth in a better race at Newmarket last month off 1lb higher.

MR WAGYU is another for the shortlist after his Epsom third last weekend, assuming this doesn’t come too soon for him.

Race 3 – GOOD SHOW 4/1

The fact that Godolphin continues with LIVE YOUR DREAM, despite 20 months off, suggests that they feel he still has wins in him and the six-year-old might go well under Louis Steward, though a win on his return looks a big ask.

CUMULONIMBUS was all out to hold on at Newmarket last month and could go well, but he may set the race up for the Hamilton winner GOOD SHOW.

The son of Nathaniel was produced perfectly by P J McDonald that day and gets the vote off just 3lb higher here.

RACE 4 – TIME LOCK 2/1

TIME LOCK looks to have plenty in her favour as she bids to open her account for the season in the Lester Piggott Stakes at Haydock.

The daughter of Frankel was seriously impressive on her second career start at Newmarket last term, since when she has filled the runner-up spot in three successive races.

She was an odds-on favourite to beat the reopposing MIMIKYU in a novice event at this meeting 12 months ago, but was beaten a neck on soft ground.

The winner is clearly a major threat once more, but the suspicion is she may be better with more ease underfoot, whereas the forecast good to firm surface should be right up Time Lock’s street.

Following that narrow reverse, Harry and Roger Charlton’s inmate was touched off by another high-class Juddmonte-owned filly in Haskoy in the Galtres Stakes at York, with the winner now rated 110 after finishing fourth in the St Leger and winning a Group Three at Newbury on her reappearance last month.

Time Lock made her comeback in Listed company at Goodwood and did not do much wrong in being beaten a length by Luisa Casati, with conditions again not entirely in her favour.

She is bound to strip fitter for that run, she should encounter her favoured ground and with Ryan Moore booked to ride her for the first time everything points to a big performance.

Race 5 – THE ASTROLOGIST 7/2

Moore could well complete a Group Three double in the following John of Gaunt Stakes, with Antipodean raider THE ASTROLOGIST given a second chance to show his worth on British soil.

The seven-year-old has performed with credit against some of Australia’s best sprinters in his homeland and was beaten just a head by Danyah in the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night in March.

His seventh-placed finish in last month’s 1895 Duke of York Clipper Stakes on his UK debut does not look particularly encouraging on paper, but he showed up well for a long way on the Knavesmire before tiring late in the piece.

He should strip fitter on Merseyside and he really needs to be winning a race of this nature if he is to head for the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot with realistic claims.

BEVERLEY

Race 2 – MIDNIGHT AFFAIR 5/6

The Richard Fahey-trained MIDNIGHT AFFAIR looks the one to be with in the Hilary Needler Trophy.

The daughter of Dark Angel set connections back 180,000 guineas as a yearling and she was sent to Newmarket’s Guineas meeting for her racecourse debut.

While no match for the impressive winner Soprano, Midnight Affair was clearly best of the rest despite enduring a troubled passage and she is fancied to go one better on the Westwood.

Race 3 – UGO GREGORY 5/2

UGO GREGORY sits on joint-bottom weight in this handicap despite being a triple course and distance winner.

Admittedly, his last win was in October 2021, but he showed signs of a return to form when a nose second here last month, and has scored off much higher marks in the past.

SATIN SNAKE had an off day at Kempton on his latest start but is more than capable of going close here if at his best, although UNITED FRONT might be the bigger danger, with the Michael Appleby stable coming back into top form.

Race 4 – BOMBAY BAZAAR 3/1

BOMBAY BAZAAR showed marked improvement from his first run when he emerged as an easy winner over course and distance 25 days ago and, with that valuable experience of this stiff finish under his belt, he could be hard to beat if he copes with the forecast faster surface.

CUBAN SLIDE, who beat a lesser-fancied stablemate by nine lengths when he was introduced at Musselburgh last month, is feared most, although Fusterlandia ran above market expectations on debut and also warrants consideration.