Haydock Saturday review and replays

Doyle and Hannon impressed by Chindit

Richard Hannon admitted that Chindit looked like a ‘Group One horse’ after moving a step closer to tackling some lucrative targets aboard following a decisive victory in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Superior Mile Stakes.

The son of Wootton Bassett made it four seasons in succession that he secured victory at Pattern race level after giving Classic-winning handler Hannon his first success in the mile Group Three contest.

After returning a beaten favourite in the Group Two Hungerford Stakes at Newbury last time out, Chindit was on somewhat of a recovery mission eased back in grade on his fifth start of the year.

Despite being nudged along earlier than most of his rivals the 5/2 chance finished best of them all when asked the question by James Doyle to cross the line two and quarter lengths clear of runner-up Light Infantry (11/8 favourite).

Hannon, speaking away from the track, said: “He didn’t run his race last time at Newbury and he was a bit disappointing, but he was right back to his best and he looked like the Group One horse that I think he is. Mr Poonawalla purchased him to see his mares once he retires from racing and he has now won a Group race at two, three, four and five. He looks right back to his very best form.

“We will certainly look at some nice pots abroad now where there is fast ground. There are a couple of races in Australia and races around two bends over a mile in America and he might even be the sort of horse that gets an invite to Hong Kong. There are lots of options for him, although today I really did think he looked like a Group One horse. I’d love to win a Group One with him as I know he is that sort of horse. Sean Fox deserves a mention as he has done a great job with him. We were all disappointed and he was one of them but he has helped get him back and it has been a great team effort from everybody at home.”

Equally delighted with the display was Classic-winning rider Doyle who heaped plenty of praise on his mount.

Doyle said: “He has run some huge races through his time. It looked a nice opportunity for him on paper and it looked a match race between him and Light Infantry.
We didn’t get off to a great start and he was a bit sleepy early. As we know, it is quite a sharp track here. We didn’t go crazy, but we went fast enough that I was able to hit the line good and come into it nice and strongly.

“Between the two and three furlong poles I could see Jamie (Spencer on Light Infantry) on the inside and I thought it is time to get on my bike a bit as he does stay this trip well. I asked him a huge question from a furlong out, but he is a class horse, and he got the job done well.”

Haggas at the double in big handicaps

Naqeeb has long way to go match the exploits of his Group One winning half-brothers Baaeed and Hukum, but he continued his own progression through the ranks with a taking success in the Get Daily Rewards With Betfair Handicap.

Up until scoring last time out at Kempton Park the William Haggas-trained son of Nathaniel had suffered defeat in each of his first three outings, including at the hands of leading Betfred St Leger contender Middle Earth at Newmarket back in July.

While Naqeeb might have left his supporters frustrated on more than one occasion those that have stuck by the Shadwell Estate Company-owned three-year-old were rewarded in handsome fashion in the £100,000 handicap.

Always travelling strongly in the hands of Tom Marquand the 5/2 chance appeared to appreciate the step up to a mile and six furlongs when proving a length and a quarter too strong for runner-up Blindedbythelights.

Haggas said: “I thought a mark of 100 was steep for him, but I think his improved a bit going up in trip and I think he will be a good stayer next year. How far he will go I don’t know, but he is a big raw horse, and he has still got lots to learn. I don’t know, but I suspect he will maybe have one more run this year if we are lucky. He is not as quick as Baaeed, as I think he wants another mile. He is a big raw horse by Nathaniel, but if he can end up half as good as those two that will do me. He is useful.

“It looks like it (that it has taken a while for the penny to drop) because he took a long time to win and he got mugged, I thought, by Middle Earth at Newmarket, but Middle Earth probably has a lively chance in the St Leger. We will see. He is going to be at least 105 now so he is going to be (have to be better than a handicapper) as if he isn’t he will be in no man’s land.”

There was further success on the card for Haggas and Marquand after Post Impressionist bounced back from a spell in the doldrums when putting in his ‘best run of the season’ in the Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap.

Out of luck on his previous four starts this season the gelded son of Teofilo returned to winning ways when coming from the rear of the field to swoop past all his rivals and scoop the £100,000 contest.

Victory looked to be heading the way of recent Ebor sixth Caius Chorister, who moved effortlessly to the front under Jamie Spencer, however he had to settle for second best after the 10/1 chance powered past late on before scoring by a length and a quarter.

Haggas, who along with Marquand was enjoying a 37.5/1 double, said: “We weren’t expecting to do that, but Tom said he didn’t want to go early. I was hoping if that was the case they would go fast, and they seemed to go fast. It is a long way up the straight when they go hard and he managed to pick them off.

“The first race of any description he has run properly in was the Ebor last time. That was just a glimpse of him. He is in a vein of form which is terrific, and I’m delighted. We will go for big pots with him. He is up for another rise so that will knock him out of any serious handicaps. If he can win a one hundred thousand pounds race every year I would be delighted.

“I don’t do optimistic, but I thought if he could string another good race in, I thought he might run a good race as I didn’t see anything in this race today that was ahead of the handicapper. He ran really well at the back end last year and he has put two good runs together. That was a really good run today. It was his best run of the season by far.”

Musmak looks exciting prospect

Roger Varian might have been out of luck in Ireland with King Of Steel, but he appears to have a smart prospect on his hands in Al Musmak who secured the most significant success of his career in the Betfair Daily Tips On Betting.Betfair Ascendant Stakes.

Having chased home Rosallion on his first try at Listed company at Ascot in July the Night Of Thunder colt made his second attempt at the same level a successful one when taking a step up to a mile in his stride under Ben Curtis.

Travelling strongly into contention the 11/4 chance, whose stablemate King Of Steel finished fourth in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, picked up well on his first outing beyond seven furlongs when motoring to the front under Curtis.

Keeping on in determined fashion Al Musmak hit the line strongly to lower the colours of the previously unbeaten Macduff by a length and a half with Remaadd a further head adrift in third.

Curtis said: “He relaxed lovely at the back, and I was keen not to give them too much rope at the two pole here as they can get away from you. He travelled into it nice and to be honest when I asked him he responded and he went to the front and saw out the mile well. It was very pleasing.

“He floated across the ground and that was probably the question mark as the ground up until now has been a bit slower, but he handled that beautifully. He has the right mind for it and he took it well. Hopefully he can take another step forward after that.”

The winning jockey went on to complete a 12/1 double on the day when partnering the Darryll Holland-trained Pearl Eye (5/2 favourite) to success in the concluding Extra Places Any Day With Betfair Handicap over a mile.

Raasel set for quick return

A quick turnaround could be on the cards for Raasel who secured his first victory in 2023 when giving weight away all around to his rivals in the Betfair Be Friendly Handicap.

The gelded son of Showcasing has given members of The Horse Watchers syndicate many notable days, with arguably the pick of them coming in last year’s Group Three Coral Charge at Sandown Park.

While without a win this year the six-year-old had run a number of good efforts in defeat, including on his most recent start when third in the Group Two King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.

Buried in among rivals the Mick Appleby-trained 4/1 chance burst through late on in the five-furlong dash before defeating Tees Spirit by three quarters of a length to complete a 16.5/1 double for winning jockey James Doyle.

Chris Dixon, spokesman for owners The Horse Watchers, said: “Dubai never really went his way and when he got back Mick’s horses were probably a bit off colour and he probably just hadn’t got over from being in Dubai.

“He steadily worked his way back into form and we were fairly confident he would run well today, but winning handicaps off 107 is not easy but he managed to do it and the race played out well for him.

“He ran twice at Goodwood. The first run in a handicap was no good but he was on the flank, and he got no cover. He needs burying in between horses and today James took him in behind horses and he loves that.

“We will probably go next week for the Listed Scarbrough Stakes at Doncaster if he is okay. He won’t be going to Dubai this time, but we might keep him ticking over in the winter and run him in the odd five-furlong Listed race.”

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