Saturday’s UK racing tips come your way from the meetings at Goodwood, Haydock and York on 27 May 2023.
GOODWOOD
Race 1 – EL DRAMA
This revolves around FRANCESCO CLEMENTE and whether the unbeaten son of Dubawi is ready to step up to Listed company. The Gosdens have been patient, which has resulted in an unblemished record so far, but he has been off a fair while, whereas EL DRAMA is fit from Dubai.
The Roger Varian-trained entire so nearly landed the Jebel Hatta before running with credit in the Dubai Turf, and he actually beat all bar Baaeed in a Group 3 on his only previous Goodwood appearance. KING OF CONQUEST is progressing nicely and deserves a crack at this sort of prize.
Race 2 – CLASSIC 12/1
Not many can be confidently ruled out and the likes of TAFREEJ, who is unexposed at the trip, and BRESSON, who drops back from Listed company, merit places high on the shortlist. However, it would be very dangerous to underestimate CLASSIC, who failed to give his running on testing ground in the Greenham at Newbury last month.
His form as a juvenile is starting to work out well and he looks worth a shot now back down in grade. DARK THIRTY and HECTIC, stablemates of the selection, enhance Richard Hannon’s strong hand.
HAYDOCK
Race 3 – COVEY 2/1
COVEY could easily prove a blot on the handicap off a mark of 90 in the Silver Bowl. Not seen as a juvenile, he bumped into the smart Zoology first time up at Southwell and has enjoyed two bloodless wins since.
Race 4 – LITTLE BIG BEAR 6/5
Aidan O’Brien’s LITTLE BIG BEAR can light up Haydock when he takes his chance in the Betfred-sponsored Sandy Lane Stakes.
The No Nay Never colt had an almost all-conquering two-year-old season, winning the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh and the Phoenix Stakes at the same track – the latter by seven lengths, looking a superstar in the process.
He was well-fancied for the 2000 Guineas as a result, but had an experience to forget in the first Classic of the season as he was hampered and finished lame in last place. That run can be discounted and now on returning to his favoured six-furlong trip, he looks to be the horse to beat in a highly-quality field, with fast ground not an inconvenience.
Race 5 – ROYAL ACLAIM 5/1
On the same card in the Temple Stakes, it is James Tate’s ROYAL ACLAIM who can make a winning comeback. The four-year-old caught the eye when winning the Listed City Walls Stakes at York last season, though her return to the Knavesmire for the Nunthorpe was not as successful as she was sixth having started at the favourite.
A subsequent run in Longchamp’s Prix du Petit Couvert then resulted in a third-placed finish on her last run of the term. Though taking to the track for the first time this year, the filly – who is held in the highest regard – won after over a year out of action between her two- and three-year-old seasons and does not look like the type that is liable to peak as a juvenile and fail to train on.
YORK
Race 3 – FINE WINE 11/1
KORKER is an obvious contender after a solid second at the Dante meeting, but he has an added 3lb now and will need to start better. FINE WINE tried making all before weakening over a furlong further at Newcastle and if he can repeat that from a good draw, he may take some catching. COPPER KNIGHT loves it here and is hard to ignore, while MUSIC SOCIETY deserves another win after an unlucky second at Thirsk.
Race 4 – MIMIKYU 3/1
MIMIKYU can kick off her campaign in style in the William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes at York. John and Thady Gosden’s charge made huge strides during her three-year-old campaign, winning a novice event at Haydock in June before hosing up off a mark of 86 in a Newmarket handicap the following month.
Unsurprisingly her sights were quickly raised and while she made no impact on the Knavesmire when racing far too keenly in the Galtres Stakes, she made amends next time when landing the Park Hill at Doncaster with ease. The mile-and-three-quarters trip on that occasion played to her strengths and she is best forgiven for her final spin of the year when tried in Group One company on Champions Day at Ascot.
