Nick Luck
Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Easter Saturday Best Bets
William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Easter Saturday’s ITV racing from Musselburgh and Haydock.
Musselburgh, Easter Saturday
MONOCEROS is taken to spring a surprise in the TV curtain raiser at Musselburgh on Saturday (1.25). This isn’t quite as appealing a race as it seems at first glance, and Ian Jardine might just have struck lucky in the Godolphin bargain bin with this son of Dubawi and Oaks runner-up Shirocco Star. Certainly, the form of the first two runs makes him perfectly well handicapped, and – if this capable stable has him ready – he should be up to getting involved with conditions likely to suit.
AL ARBEED looks a likely one for the Silver Arrow (1.55). Open to a good bit more improvement than most, he had a nice limber up for this in a better race, showing plenty before tiring late. He faces largely exposed rivals here, and his stable has made a bright start to the turf season.
MANY MEN is given a chance to spring a milf surprise in the Goliath Cup (2.30). He did brilliantly last year, with his narrow Melrose defeat to a very smart winner the highlight, and he can progress over trips this time. Al Qareem is the hardiest of opponents, but I don’t want to take odds-on about a horse who has never won first time out, while Mount Atlas doesn’t look an obvious stayer, for all connections are much respected.
GAMBINO has a shot at giving Dan Skelton a big Flat winner in the Queen’s Cup (3.05). Notwithstanding the reflected glory he received from running in the Constitution Hill race at Southwell, he had some smart speed figures from his runs in Ireland, and needed the Southwell run to get into some of the better handicaps. Plus, the hurdles debut was highly encouraging. It doesn’t need to, but the first time tongue tie could help further, and he has a nice fitness edge over most.
JER BATT is quite strongly fancied to run well in the Scottish Sprint Cup (3.42). Canon’s House and Eternal Sunshine will press forward from their high draws, with the rapid Denocracy Dilemma tacking to join them, allowing the selection a perfect stalking trip near the stands rail. He’s well treated again now, likes this track, and a repeat of last year’s third to Group 1 winner American Affair and Group 2 winner JM Jungle will put him right on the premises.
Haydock, Easter Saturday
WILLIETHEBUILDER can outclass his rivals in the first of the Challenger Series races at Haydock (2.12). Cheltenham was a non-event after early traffic, but he’d been progressing really well to that point, gets on well with his talented young rider, and should get a nice tow into this.
SECRET TRIX looks dangerous at a price in the three mile final (2.46). He’s tumbled rapidly down the weights, and he was most eyecatching when second in the Market Rasen Qualifier under an inexperienced rider. He’s had wind surgery since, and is absolutely thrown in on his old form.
THE FLIER BEGLEY is surely the value to repeat last year’s heroics in the veterans’ final (3.20). There aren’t many of these guaranteed to enjoy the track, but he loves it here, got himself qualified with his seasonal debut, protected his mark over hurdles last time, and has surely been campaigned only with this day in mind.
ROYAL DEESIDE can be one of the lower rated ITV winners of the year in the last televised race at Haydock (3.55). He ran a stormer in the Go North final at Carlisle from out of the handicap, and – given all his chase form this year has been at Carlisle or Hexham – his pace pushing style might just be better suited to this easier, flatter track.
