Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: Inisherin should need no Persuasion

Haydock, Saturday

INVOLVEMENT can land the TV opener at Haydock (1.15pm). He has shown plenty on all his starts, and was pretty unlucky not to beat decent rivals at Epsom on his seasonal debut. Conditions should suit just fine, and there’s a nice bit of speed on to his inside for him to run down.

ROGUE LIGHTNING can take the step forward in the Temple Stakes (1.50pm). He could have been a fair bit closer to winning the Abbaye with a clear run, and his record since being gelded is pretty smart, as his pedigree suggests. The draw looks quite kind here – he should be able to sit just up behind the pace against what may well be a favoured stands side rail.

INISHERIN is a sporting selection to give Vandeek a fright in the Sandy Lane (2.25pm). He showed really bright speed in the Guineas and, although most of his classy family have done better over further, a good miler’s quality should really hold him in good stead against out and out sprinters. We know Vandeek is a formidable opponent and is not taken lightly, but so does the market and the price disparity between the pair is not reflected in their ratings.

PERSUASION might be the answer to a tough seven furlong handicap (3.00pm). He’s run as though edging himself back to form in two starts this season, and now finds himself back on a very competitive mark at a track where he was only just touched off last autumn. Ground is fine, and I could see him ridden with a bit more restraint this afternoon.

DIVINE COMEDY is a tentative choice in the staying handicap (3.30pm). She perhaps lacks a touch of quality, but lacks nothing in tenacity and is well worth another try over this trip. In fact, I’m not sure there’s a trip too far for her. Ground is no issue and the rider can claim a nice chunk as well as she looks to build on a promising comeback.

Goodwood, Saturday

BLUE PRINCE looks a bit exposed but is a fair price given his current wellbeing in the first of the Goodwood TV races (1.30pm). His run at York, against the bias, was excellent and significantly his first at this trip, so there’s every right to believe it wasn’t a fluke.

REGAL JUBILEE can win the Height of Fashion (2.05pm). She didn’t do anything exciting in the Guineas, but she was right on the sharp end in a race that was run at too hot a pace, and was probably going as fast as her legs could carry her. This will be an altogether calmer affair, her pedigree suggests she should improve for the extra distance, and she brings the strongest form.

York, Saturday

RABAAH is given another chance in the sprint at York (2.45pm). A fiery sort, he ran very well here when coming from miles back last summer, and his comeback run should have brought him on a fair bit and just taken the freshness out of him. 5 furlongs should enable him to race a bit more kindly, and this well bred horse from the family of champion sprinter Muhaarar surely has a deal more to offer in what is his easiest task for some time.

LMAY looks quite a tasty price in the Brontë Cup (3.20pm). She was rather hit and miss last year, but I can’t get her Park Hill third out of my head. Not so much the piece of form itself, but the way she cruised through the race looking the winner most of the way round. Fundamentally, she’s a pretty talented stayer who has needed to learn how to switch off and race. Given another year under her belt, and granted normal progression, she should be able to mix it with these under suitable conditions.

Curragh, Saturday

HAATEM is taken to shock his stablemate Rosallion in the Irish Guineas (3.40pm). While I bow to no one in my regard for the favourite, I’m unconvinced that the galloping demands of the Curragh are ideal to enable him to deploy his blistering turn of foot. In addition, I’m not sure Aidan wants this to be an all out slog for River Tiber and Unquestionable, so there must be a chance HAATEM can build up a steady head of steam on the front end without the hassle he got from every corner at Newmarket. Jamie Spencer will be completely aware of all the tactical nuances here, and can deliver HAATEM to emulate his sire Phoenix of Spain by winning this race.