NAP – 4:25pm: Aristocratic Lady
The well-bred Aristocratic Lady – her dam is a half-sister to Dubawi – shaped with promise without winning on both starts last season but she has returned an improved model. She got off the mark at Leicester, having no problem with the drop back in trip to six furlongs, and then comfortably defied an opening mark of 78 on her handicap debut at Yarmouth last month, showing much-improved form. She travelled smoothly and made good headway over a furlong out before bursting into the lead and drawing two and a half lengths clear. She scored with plenty in hand at Yarmouth and is clearly a filly on the up, so a 9 lb higher mark should not stop her from completing the hat-trick.
NEXT BEST – 2.40pm: Global Giant
Global Giant has done really well since joining John Gosden and looks up to making his mark at this level. He justified strong support to impressively win a minor event at Wolverhampton on his first start for the yard, sprinting clear off a steady pace, and he then shaped well when fourth in a Sandown listed race on his return from a six-month break. That race has worked out well as Aspetar and Fox Chairman (second and third at Sandown) fought out the finish to the Group 2 York Stakes, while Global Giant produced a career-best effort to land a listed race at Newbury last time, producing a strong, sustained run to prevail. That form is arguably the best on offer and another bold bid looks on the cards.
EACH-WAY – 3:50pm: War Glory
War Glory is rated lower on turf than he is on the all-weather and he has shaped as if he is ready to cash in. He produced an encouraging effort when eighth, beaten under six lengths in the ultra-competitive Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot, and he bounced back from a couple of lesser efforts when fourth at the same course last time, running on well inside the final furlong after being forced to switch. The handicapper has relented again, dropping him another couple of pounds, and everything looks in place for a big effort from a generous mark.
Timeform’s top trio at Haydock on Saturday
NAP – 4:25pm: Aristocratic Lady
NEXT BEST – 2.40pm: Global Giant
EACH-WAY – 3:50pm: War Glory
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