Jakajaro to have day in the Sun at Haydock
HAYDOCK’s card this weekend is headlined by two Group Two sprint contests, the Sandy Lane Stakes (2.58pm) and the Temple Stakes (3.30pm).
With the weather in the north west unsettled and a good bit of rain around, I’m expecting the ground to be no better than good-to-soft come Saturday.
Softer conditions should suit the Clive Cox-trained Shagraan, but his price has already tumbled for the William Hill Temple Stakes, and that means I’d rather look elsewhere.
One of the stories of last season was the rapid rise of American Affair from handicaps to Group One glory and every season there is a sprinter that emerges from handicaps and makes a successful step up to Group races.
This campaign that might well be JAKAJARO, who has already won two handicaps in fine style since his return to action last month.
The latest of those came in a typically competitive York sprint, where he readily pulled clear of 20 rivals to win with ease.
He was one of the few winners to come down the stands’ side rail that day, and it looked like the performance of a rapidly improving sprinter.
Unsurprisingly the handicapper has put him up eight pounds for that, leaving him on a mark of 108, which means he’s not out of place in this company.
He appears versatile ground wise and makes each-way appeal at around the 14/1 mark.
The William Hill Sandy Lane Stakes is for three-year-olds and often has a bearing on the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.
To me, this contest looks a toss-up between the top two in the market, VENETIAN SUN and Coppull.
The second mentioned was a good winner over six furlongs at Ascot earlier this month, with the reopposing Division back in third.
That’s decent form and he could well build on it, but the more I watch replays of Venetian Sun’s run in the 1000 Guineas, the more it looks like a good effort on her reappearance.
Karl Burke’s filly was seen travelling well and making good progress on the Rowley Mile, only for her run to flatten out at the finish.
She didn’t look to see out what was her first go at a mile, but was ultimately only beaten six lengths, and remains capable of much better now returned to a sprint trip.
She is four-from-four over trips of five and six furlongs, which includes a win in the Group One Prix Morny, where she put over seven lengths between herself and Coppull.
If returning to that sort of form, she will be hard to beat, and I expect her to go off a good deal shorter than the 5/2 currently available, so she’s a bet in my book.
There are several competitive handicaps on Haydock’s card, and in the two-mile William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap (4.05pm) I’m drawn to Jim Goldie’s HUMBLE SPARK.
He was second in this race 12 months ago when six pounds higher in the handicap, finishing behind Caballo De Mar, a horse that has gone on to win a Group One since.
Humble Spark has been kept busy this season, running four times since early April, but seems to be holding his form well, filling out the runner-up spot over inadequate trips on his last two starts at Hamilton.
Back up to two miles here, and with Lauren Young taking five pounds off his back, he could be well treated, and the 8/1 on offer looks good to me.
POINTERS SATURDAY
Venetian Sun 2.58pm Haydock
Jakajaro e/w 3.30pm Haydock
Humble Spark e/w 4.05pm Haydock