Lancashire Oaks: Arabian Comet can be crowned Haydock Queen

Bookmakers are struggling to find a clear favourite for tomorrow’s Lancashire Oaks (2.15pm) at Haydock with combinations of five of the 11 fillies and mares heading the market with different firms.

 

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The obvious starting point has to be Denis Coakley’s hat-trick seeking Miss Marjurie who had several of these in behind her when landing the Pinnacle Stakes over course and distance in May.

 

She had previously won the Warwick Stakes at Goodwood and even though she looks to have improved this season, I like the look of William Haggas’ filly Arabian Comet who finished third to her on the Downs that day.

 

That was Arabian Comet’s first run of the campaign, so she’s entitled to come on for it, especially as she suffered interference at a crucial stage.

 

Now, you get plenty of hard luck stories at Goodwood, but this daughter of Dubawi flew home once she found daylight and I expect her to go really well at around 6/1.

 

The Old Newton Cup (2.50pm) looks another wide-open affair with Luca Cumani’s Penhill currently heading the betting.

 

He was backed off the boards at Ascot before bolting up on his seasonal reappearance, but disappointed from his revised mark at Newmarket last time.

 

That’s the second time he’s run below par at headquarters, so I’m prepared to forgive him that poor show last time, but I still think he has his work cut out here.

 

There has been plenty of money around for Roger Varian’s Battersea who was progressive last season, but he’s having his first run of the campaign and is plenty short enough at just 11/2 with Betway.

 

At the prices, I’d rather back Mark Johnston’s Watersmeet at 8/1 and Richard Hannon’s Windshear at 20/1.

 

The former has been in great form this campaign and runs off the same mark from which he finished fifth in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot. He’s not the easiest of rides but will take plenty of pegging back if on a going day.

 

As for Windshear, he’s just too big a price at 20/1 with Betway back down in handicap company. Remember, this horse was good enough to finish fourth in last year’s St Leger and was beaten in a head bob at Glorious Goodwood by Snow Sky.