Andrew Halligan 28/05/2022 – two tips for the card at Haydock, including in the John of Gaunt, as well as one at Punchestown.
We are in the calm before the storm as we build up the Derby next week at Epsom.
But, there are still a lot of races to get our teeth stuck into.
Punchestown 15:08 – 2m4f Hurdle – Andrew Halligan 28/05/2022
My selection here is a horse that was moved to Gordon Elliot from Peter Fahey only recently and that horse is SOVIET PIMPERNEL.
A horse who promised to be an above-average hurdler in his younger days when taking a Grade 3 hurdle at Limerick’s 2019 Limerick Christmas Festival, with the likes of now Grade 1 winner Franco De Port 12l behind that day.
He had one final run over hurdles when 9th in the 2020 Supreme Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
He had been chasinguntil his move to Gordon led to a switch back over hurdles where he recently finished a creditable 3rd – 3 ½l behind Shewearsitwell.
That was more like it and with improvement to come from race fitness this look a great opportunity for Soviet Pimpernel to get back to winning ways receiving weight from all bar two of his rivals.
Haydock 14:55 – Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes – Andrew Halligan 28/05/2022
This selection is on that I have been waiting to see back on the track ever since her blistering win in the River Eden Fillies Listed Stakes at Lingfield back in October; and that filly is SEA LA ROSA.
As I said, her win in at Lingfield was breath-taking and it wasn’t the first time we were shown glimpses of her potential.
Her trainer and jockey could not be in better form with William Haggas operating at a 38% strike rate over the past two weeks and Tom Marquand is working with a ridiculous 21%. That’s with an Irish Guineas win to booth in-between.
For me, it is hard to look past her – being out of Sea The Stars another factor – there is every chance. We have yet to see the best of her.
Haydock 15:30 – Group 3 John of Gaunt Stakes – Andrew Halligan 28/05/2022
My third and final selection is KINROSS.
A C/D winner and a horse that has a lot of ability when it falls right for him with his hold up tactics.
A very unlucky 9th (beat 4 ½l) in the Group 1 Champion Sprint at Ascot on Champions Day at the back end of last season, which Creative Force won – a horse Kinross had previously beaten at Goodwood earlier that season.
That race has thrown up a pleather of winners including recent Group 2 Duke Of York winner Highfield Princess.
To me this is a Group 1 level performer in a Group 3 against inferior opposition. The only worry you might have being race fitness. But, with the race looking like it will be run to suit with pace from Misty Grey, Happy Power and Pogo, you can be sure the son of Kingman will be extremely hard to beat.
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Andrew Halligan 28/05/2022
