Racing betting: Waady looks the safest option in Temple Stakes
Trying to guess what the weather is going to do is the bane of my life.
This time last week Newbury had been hit by over 50mm of rain in 24 hours and the ground for the Lockinge meeting was officially soft, heavy in places.
Obviously I opted for horses with plenty of soft ground form, only for conditions to dry out rapidly, and the going was described as good come race time.
There is potential for similar problems at Haydock this weekend where plenty of rain is forecast to hit the Lancashire track over the next few days.
Mudlark Mecca’s Angel has seen her price halve into just 2/1 with Betway, but connections have warned she won’t take her chance in the Group Two Temple Stakes (4.10pm, Saturday) without some softening of the going.
If their prayers are answered and the heavens do open, her price will contract further and she will take plenty of stopping.
However, I’m prepared to take a chance on the John Gosden-trained WAADY who made a pleasing reappearance at Newmarket in the Palace House.
Last season he secured four wins from his six starts, all of which came over the minimum trip and on ground ranging from soft to good-to-firm.
He looks a true five-furlong horse, is versatile in terms of ground and can be backed at 7/1.
Before that, the red-hot Hugo Palmer fields ZODIAKOS in the Silver Bowl Stakes (3.05pm).
With five months of the Flat season still to go, the Newmarket handler is almost half-way to equalling last year’s grand total of 24 winners already.
This will be his first visit to Haydock in 2016 and I think Zodiakos will make it worthwhile.
After a mixed bag of performances as a two-year-old, he’s less exposed than many of his rivals.
No horse has carried more than 9st 2lb to victory in the last nine runnings of this race and I think Zodiakos, who shoulders 8st 10lb, can outrun his mark today.
He made a very promising return at Newmarket when third behind Godolphin’s Folkswood and is bound to come on for that pipe-opener.
Another horse that catches my eye is Mick Channon’s ELIDOR in the Listed Grand Cup (2.40pm) over at York.
He looked a winner in waiting on his seasonal reappearance when finishing narrowly behind the well-fancied Dartmouth and Irish raider Wicklow Brave at Chester.
He paid the price for being a little too keen that day, but was beaten less than a length and looks well worth another go with Silvestre De Sousa in the saddle again.
The six-year-old faces a tougher contest here but, with the Channon-De Sousa partnership firing in the winners, he looks worth another chance.
Wiltshire-based Roger Charlton is another trainer in great form and I believe DECORATED KNIGHT will benefit from the step up in trip at Goodwood in the Listed Festival Stakes (2.15pm).
He found a mile too sharp last time out at Ascot, having travelled like the winner for much of the way and was beaten just over two lengths into fourth.
He will certainly strip fitter for that race and the longer trip could be the key to unlocking a winning performance.
Pointers
Decorated Knight 2.15pm Goodwood
Elidor e/w 2.40pm York
Zodiakos e/w 3.05pm Haydock
Waady e/w 4.10pm Haydock