Rory Delargy and David Massey are back with a look ahead to Friday's racing.
Racing betting tips: Friday May 22
1pt win Sky Majesty in 14:55 Haydock at 15/8 (General) – no lower
1pt e.w. Knicks in 19:22 Pontefract at 6/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3) – min 5/1
14:55 Haydock
The conundrum for punters at Haydock on Friday is working out how much the ground will have dried up overnight. It is sure to get quicker through the day but was close to heavy on Thursday and is likely to ride dead and tacky even with a day of sunshine.
That is ground that doesn’t suit any horse, in truth, but it tends to place emphasis on stamina, so those who barely stay will be vulnerable, and proven stamina for further will be a positive.
SKY MAJESTY is hard to get away from here for all she was below form on quicker ground at Newmarket on last month’s return, finishing just a respectable 3¼-length sixth of 9 to Flora of Bermuda in the Listed Ellen Chaloner Stakes. She is much better than that at her peak, as a win in the Group 3 Ballyogan Stakes at Naas in August will testify.
That came on yielding ground at a track that tests stamina and a well-run race here will see her back on track, I fancy. The fitting of a tongue tie is a potential concern, but William Haggas has a 20% strike-rate when fitting the breathing aid for the first time and that gives it a positive look. She represents a bet at the general 15/8 but it’s worth noting the price is closer to 5/2 on the exchanges, so shop around!
16:05 Haydock
The stalls are in the centre for ten-furlong races at Haydock and that tends to disadvantage those drawn low, which helps in narrowing the field for this contest. Pol Roger took the eye last time and has dropped to a good mark, but I may have to wait another day for him if his draw in stall 1 is as negative as past results imply.
Golspie is better known for his efforts on the all-weather, but Pat Morris’s charge ran right up to his best when chasing home Dancing Tiger at Doncaster’s Lincoln meeting. He has similar conditions to cope with here and is a straightforward sort, so should be going close having been nudged up just 1lb for that silver medal run.
His best efforts have come on a left-handed track at around ten furlongs and everything looks in place for a big run, assuming there is no physical reason for a 55-day absence since Doncaster.
19:22 Pontefract
The turf will also be on the easy side at Pontefract where the most interesting race is this 10-runner affair over the minimum trip. I was tempted by Betweenthesticks, who has turned over a new leaf of late, and has won on both his recent visits to Pontefract. Ruth Carr’s front-runner is drawn higher than ideal but has enough early boot to cross over safely, even if the dead ground could blunt his late speed.
In the scenario where he leads but sets the race up for one who can finish well in the conditions, I like the look of KNICKS, who has gone a while between drinks but features on a lenient mark on his best efforts, which have largely come at 5f on good or softer ground.
Placed three times last summer on yielding ground over this trip off marks between 68 and 70, he has now dropped to 64 and while untried over C&D, he’s got a win and a second from two runs over Chester’s turning 5f and the track should really suit him.
Preview posted at 10:12 BST on 22/05/26
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