Nick Luck’s Blog: C’mon and back Big Bear

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck runs his expert eye over the major races on a busy Saturday, including Group action at Haydock and the Irish 2000 Guineas from the Curragh.

Haydock, Saturday

C’MON KENNY is chanced at 5/1 in a ropey TV opener at Haydock (1.15pm). The best of his turf form suggests this mark is not beyond him and I’m inclined to forgive a no-show on bad ground on his Newbury return. His sharp stable have bothered to book William Buick as he eases in grade.

LAW OF THE SEA can be another for the Williams/Buick combo (1.50pm) at 15/8. Pretty unexposed relative to these, he truly ran a stormer in the Chester Cup on his first start for these connections, even looking a little unlucky. From just a pound higher in a lower grade, he must go well.

DEFENCE OF FORT is not without risk at 13/2, but could come with significant reward (2.25pm). I was blown away by his racecourse debut last year, confident that he was a stakes horse in the making. After that, the wheels fell off and he wouldn’t relax – a gelding operation has hopefully done the trick… if it has, he might just have quite a bit in hand.

LITTLE BIG BEAR was just so good last year that I have to take one more chance that he’s trained on at 5/4, particularly over a sprint distance (3.00pm). His romp at the Curragh was so dominant – the best piece of two year old form – that I’ll take Aidan’s read of the Guineas on trust.

ROYAL ACLAIM is the pick in the Temple (3.25pm) at 11/2. She was all the rage for the Nunthorpe last year, but might have lacked the experience and was drawn away from the action. She’s much better off with The Platinum Queen at the revised weight for age, and can do better still this year. Drying ground will help her cause as well.

Goodwood, Saturday

PHANTOM FLIGHT, at 4/1, can give James Horton a perfect return to action at Goodwood (1.30pm). A smart and quick mile/ten furlong horse last year, the key appeared to be a fast surface and a good pace, both of which look likely here.

YACOWLEF can take the feature handicap (2.05pm) at 5/1. His two-year-old form looks rock solid, but he has moved ahead another gear this year and showed versatility in his last two starts. This easier track will hold no fears stamina wise and he ran well here last year.

York, Saturday

ALLIGATOR ALLEY is worth a dart each way at 16/1 in the sprint handicap at York (2.40). He’s not the most straightforward these days, but he ran well in the circumstances here last time. He’s better off with a few of these and – if he can get away on terms – he shouldn’t be far away on ground that he’ll really enjoy.

MIMIKYU should take a great deal of beating in the Brontë Cup (3.15pm) at 11/8. She ran pretty well here in the Galtres considering how hard she pulled, was very good next time in the hood, and then can be excused a blow out at Ascot in bad ground. This will be much more suitable.

The Curragh, Saturday

HI ROYAL might now just be the value at 4/1 in the Irish Guineas (3.40pm). Although I’m a fully paid-up member of the Royal Scotsman fan club, the disparity in their prices is too big, particularly as you could argue the selection is open to more improvement and, indeed, that he’s been crying out for a bit of nice ground. Oisin Murphy is on the crest of a wave at present and this horse at least looks a guaranteed stayer at this trip on a stiff track.