Nick Luck’s blog: Bobby’s a Dazzler in Stayers’ Final

Nick Luck is back to pick out his best bets for Saturday’s racing from Haydock and Musselburgh.

Haydock, Saturday

TAKEIT EASY looks appealing in the Saturday TV opener (1.30pm) at 15/2. A smart horse a couple of years ago, he’s been brought back gently, but there’s still ability there despite the plummeting mark. He now has a sharp two miles on better ground, which will be much more suitable, and Paul O’Brien knows him well. A big field with plenty of pace will also suit this keen-going sort.

FEIVEL has a quirk in him, but he’s very capable of winning at 8/1, if the mood takes him (2.40pm). There has been significant market confidence in him every time he’s run for this yard, but he looked a bit moody at Sandown (still ran well) and was sloppy at Wetherby. Cheekpieces might easily be just what he wants, a return to better ground will suit, and a new jockey might not be a bad idea just to change it up a bit.

MY BOBBY DAZZLER is the pick in the Challenger Stayers’ Final (3.15pm) at 9/1. He comes from a yard already proven when targeting series finals, and this one ran an encouraging trial for this. A (presumably minor) breathing op has been added to the mix since, and that wouldn’t need to make too much difference to see him figure.

Musselburgh, Saturday

LION OF WAR can land the Royal Mile at Musselburgh (1.50pm) at 9/2. A really imposing two-year-old, he did fairly well early enough last season, considering his size, and was then quite highly tried. He looks perfectly well-handicapped, and I can see him getting a nice draft into the race from stable companion and likely pace angle Finn’s Charm.

THE GATEKEEPER has come back well this term and can be another for Charlie Johnston in the Silver Arrow (2.25pm). In more conventional conditions, he might even have won the Spring Mile, and did better than his finishing position. Either way, he’ll appreciate the drop back to seven furlongs and will run well at 6/1, if that hasn’t taken too much shine off him.

ZARZYNI is a tempting proposition to follow up last year’s success in the Scottish Sprint Cup (3.00pm) at 13/2. He’s a pretty good horse on his day, and his record after a break is very appealing. Add to that ground with a bit of cut, plus a lower mark than 12 months ago, and the case is pretty clear.

SPIRIT MIXER must be in the reckoning in the Queen’s Cup (3.35pm) at 9/2. A very well-bred horse, he really started to get the hang of things in a truncated campaign last year, and it didn’t look as though this mark was the ceiling of his capability when an unlucky sixth at the July meeting. The likelihood is the ground was lively enough for him there, and he can pick up where he left off under his good apprentice.