Haydock, 14:25, Rose Of Lancaster Stakes Tip: Back Danger Bay EW @ 12/113.00
The two races priced up for Haydock on Saturday both hold odds-on favourites at the time of writing, which doesn't exactly appeal for win purposes, and both The Dick Hern and Rose Of Lancaster have the potential to cut up.
All races are to be run on the inside course for Haydock fans, as those craters are a devilish obstacle when racing resumes on Merseyside.
Sallaal, rated 119, is the top dog in the betting for the 14:25 Rose Of Lancaster by dint of two wins and especially the performance at Epsom in a handicap where he smashed up a field by over 6L off 107. Striking didn't even cover it.
The handicapper duly had the say, as he went up 12lb, and scored afterwards in a Listed race but didn't totally blow me away.
Danger Bay is one I am leaning towards each-way as he looks on the large side at 12/113.00. If you think Sallaal will need soft conditions, good to firm over 1m2f is very much optimal for Danger Bay.
We've got a few spots of rain forecast for the week and, while I don't want to play fast and loose with the ground (loose is often the result at Haydock with their over-keen watering policy), Danger Bay is unlikely to face a slog.
He ran well in the John Smith's Cup against Roger Varian's Raammee, a horse clearly with a lot in hand, but Danger Bay's fourth off 102 conceding 7lbs to the winner is not to be overlooked.
In fact the more I have watched the York race, I cannot quite believe how unlucky Danger Bay was. He was given a fair bit to do by Danny Tudhope, but on leaving the turn and down into the straight, he was in that York danger zone on the inside rail and couldn't get out. Repeatedly stopped and checked, he closed up and ran on.
For time buffs, he ran 12.27 in the final furlong against Raammee's 12.71 - ouch, that hurts.
He landed a good race at Redcar prior, beating Spoken Truth with ease by over 2L off 94. With only two runs this season, there should be more to come and hopefully he can cut it at Group 3 level.
I am hoping the rain is not severe as 1m2f on good ground or quicker left-handed are key factors.
His trainer Ed Bethell has a very good record and strike-rate at Haydock to boot - chiming in with a 19% win and 37% placed record from 89 runners across all trips, yet over 1m2f he is 27% win and 55%.
Back Danger Bay in the 14:25 at Haydock on Saturday EW
Haydock, 15:00, Dick Hern Stakes Tip: Back Calendar Girl and Noche Clasica both EW @ 14/115.00
Group 1 winner from last season Fallen Angel is hopefully back this weekend but at 4/61.67 with just one run in 2026, there has to be a slight question mark about taking such a prohibitive price in the 15:00 Dick Hern Stakes.
No real major issues to report with Fallen Angel's absence since getting turned over in the Middleton in the Spring, as her trainer Karl Burke won't run her on fast going.
He said this week: "If they've done a good job with the watering, which you'd think they would with it being the first meeting back, the plan is to run her. I'm sure they'll try to produce real good ground.
"She's actually been ready to run for two months so this weather has been no help to her.
"We made a decision not to run her on fast ground as it isn't fair on her, she likes cut in the ground. As long as it is good ground she will go there."
The opposition is a complete mixed bag of ratings in the 21 entries with a spread of runners rated in the 80s and 90s, which wouldn't be good enough to lace Fallen Angel's hooves on last year's form.
Age ranges are from three to five and it's hard to see the five-year-olds improving by the masses that are required.
Two potentials at the prices are Owen Burrows' Calendar Girl - for the Neil Sedaka fans out there - and another Ed Bethell contender Noche Clasica.
Dealing with Calendar Girl firstly at 14/115.00, she was a Group 3 winning juvenile in the Oh So Sharp last term on fast ground and achieved success stylishly, rounding the field on the outside (which is never an easy thing to do).
She also won a big sales pot at Doncaster during the St Leger meeting showing battling qualities over 6f, which looked a little on the sharp side for her. The second at Donny was Song Of The Clyde, who has scored at Listed level this term.
The doubt is obviously the absence as she has not been sighted this term, and of course whether she has trained on or not.
The 14/115.00 writes her off, while the trainer could be in better form as he was 0-9 at the time of writing before racing on Tuesday.
Bethell's Noche Clasica is contender number two for the race, also at 14/115.00 and was last seen trailing in last place at Royal Ascot with a poor draw in Blue Bolt's triumph.
Her handicap wins earlier in the season at Redcar and Musselburgh were on good and good to soft, so she potentially looks one that might need some of the rain forecast and some of the Haydock watering to do its bit.
After those handicap successes, she ran at Haydock in the Listed Hedge Of Oak Stakes over the extended 1m2f. While she looked on the threat looming on the left-hand side in the straight, she appeared not to stay, clocking a closing time furlong of around 0.30 seconds slower than the winner off a good pace set at 98% finishing speed.
I am open-minded with the going regards her best but the key factor is coming back to 1m for the place and I am prepared to play.
Back Calendar Girl in the 15:00 at Haydock on Saturday EW
Back Noche Clasica in the 15:00 at Haydock on Saturday EW
Alan Dudman's notable antepost winners in 2026
January: The Doyen Chief Kempton WON 7/2
Vincenzo, Ascot, WON 3/1
Scorsese, Cheltenham PLACED 12/1
February: Kalium, Ascot, PLACED 12/1
Montregard, Ascot, WON [6/]
Grand Geste, Haydock, WON 12/1
Lookaway, Kempton, WON 16/1
March: Pina Sonata, Kempton, WON 8/1
April: Favour And Fortune, Aintree, PLACED 14/1
Konfusion, Aintree, PLACED 12/1
Whip Cracker, Newbury, PLACED 10/1
Sarab Star, Haydock, PLACED 10/1
President Scottie, Perth, PLACED 12/1
May/June: Washington Heights, WON 5/1
Thundering On, Epsom, WON 11/2
July: Team Player PLACED 16/1