Sunday, 18 December, 2022
Saturday: 2.55 Haydock
Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap | 1m6f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV
The defection of short-priced favourite Soulcombe changes the complexion of the Old Borough Cup but one thing remains the same. There is not much pace in the race.
Golden Flame is the only one in the field with recent front-running form and the possibility of a freebie up front makes him interesting at a price. The four-year-old is not obviously well treated, but did land the earlier 1m6f handicap on this card last season and has produced two of his best performances in Haydock staying races.
The various hold-up performers lining up will probably need some luck and chief among them is Jim Goldie’s stable star Euchen Glen, who landed this in 2020.
You would normally be itching to take on a 105-rated nine-year-old, but Euchen Glen’s last two displays deserve upgrading. He was denied a clear run when finishing well at Goodwood and again in the Ebor at York. The old boy arrives at the top of his game and is no stranger to carrying big weights.
Of those at bigger prices, the John and Thady Gosden-trained Amtiyaz makes some appeal from stall 14 in a race where it is hard to identify a draw bias based on past trends. It is interesting connections are persevering with this five-year-old entire, who was progressive at four. Amtiyaz was entitled to need his comeback run at York 15 days ago over an inadequate 1m4f.
Another from leftfield to note is Haliphon. Ian Williams has few peers in the staying division and managed to coax a couple of victories out of Haliphon this season, the latter from stablemate Alfred Boucher at Chester in July.
Alfred Boucher has since hacked up in a York handicap and only lost out in a photo-finish in the Ebor three days later. While Haliphon flopped on his latest run at Hamilton, that was on soft ground and the defeat is worth forgiving as this quicker surface will suit better.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders
Jim Goldie, trainer of Euchen Glen
He’s in good nick and it’ll depend on what the ground is really. He’s won it before on soft ground, but you wouldn’t want much rain falling on good to firm ground. I’d be hopeful of a good run anyway.
Ian Williams, trainer of Reshoun and Haliphon
Reshoun has been very solid this season. The trip might be on the short side for him, but he ran well over a mile and a half at Haydock earlier this year. Any rain would help him and he’s fairly well handicapped for a race of this nature. Haliphon struggled with very soft ground at Hamilton last time. I’m not convinced about the trip for him, but he’ll be given every chance to stay.
John Gosden, joint-trainer of Amtiyaz
He ran nicely on his first start of the year at York the other day and has come on from that as you would expect after such a long layoff. The one thing we don’t want for him is any rain.
Jessica Harrington, trainer of Taipan
I was delighted with him last time at Killarney so hopefully he can run a big race. He’s handicapped now to win one of those big ones and stays very well.
Heather Main, trainer of Island Brave
I don’t think he’s had much luck in running this year and that’s not helped him. He’s in good form but what I would worry about is if they had a big dump of rain as he wants good ground.
Reporting by Peter Scargill
Saturday’s race previews:
1.45 Haydock: ‘John’s really happy with him’ – will Reach For The Moon make it as a miler?
2.05 Kempton: can Dubai Honour continue his upward curve and cash in on a huge class-drop?
2.20 Haydock: William Haggas eyeing another valuable prize with progressive filly Tamilla
3.30 Haydock: ‘He has a big chance’ – top trainers on their Sprint Cup runners
3.45 Ascot: can five-strong Godolphin battalion lay siege to competitive Ascot handicap?
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