Antepost Racing Tips: Three to follow on the Betfair-sponsored card at Haydock this weekend

Saturday, Haydock, 13:25 - Betfair Backs Opinions Superior Mile Tip: Back Fondo Blanco EW @ 16/117.00

0

Fondo Blanco

• J: Ray Dawson
• T: Roger Varian
• F: 72214-002

We're at a stage of the year whern the ground is likely to change, which was certainly evident last week as Goodwood.

The risk here is going with the doubly-entered Fondo Blanco. He's a horse who doesn't mind a bit of cut in the ground as he scored as a novice in heavy as a juvenile and ran his best race of the season at Goodwood on Saturday (2L to Forty Years On) and she could be into Pattern company next up.

While he has plenty of form on good too, his record at Haydock sways me here at 16/117.00 rather than Ascot on Saturday (he is entered in the opener).

Fondo Blanco trotted up by over 4L over CD at Haydock last September with a devastating win.

He travelled nicely in second sitting handy, raced on the inside and from 2f when shaken up, he produced the quickest final furlong by almost half-a-second.

I don't doubt he'll get 1m2f as his dam is by Farrh, a good influence for stamina, but with the potential for some rain this week and his Haydock record which reads one outing and one victory, I am happy taking the chance for this rather than his other engagement.

Roger Varian has a 40% record placed with his runners over 1m at Haydock and while Ascot could be feasible, this looks a better spot for me and an each-way chance at 16/117.00.

It is a step up into grade with this Group 3, but he's not had a hard season and his run at Goodwood on Saturday is a good indication he could be ready to strike with some rain.

Saturday, Haydock, 14:30 - Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Tip: Back Mythical Bay @ 11/43.75

0

Mythical Bay (Ire)

• J: Daniel Tudhope
• T: Andrew Balding
• F: 72-123119

Andrew Balding won just about everything at the recent Ebor meeting at York although the run of Mythical Bay in the big Melrose handicap itself hardly left a plangent ring at Kingsclere.

He can't really complain, though, having won over a million sheets.

I fancied Mythical Bay for the Melrose, and pre-race his owners Tony Bloom and Patrick Veitch were interviewed and couldn't have been more tight-lipped and silent had they tried.

Both are clever cats, but we learned nothing and they wanted to be anywhere else it appeared.

He finished ninth, and the winner off a steady pace, bolted up for the young stayers'prize, but Mythical Bay's route was too wide and too isolated from his draw, but he was fancied in the betting.

He has an entry in the Irish Cesarewitch over 2m so I doubt it was stamina at York. But the Knavesmire all week was puzzling, and he deserves another opportunity as he looked so progressive at Newmarket and Newbury prior off mark of 80 and 87.

The favourite is Galilean Quality (Melrose second) for this at 2/13.00, so there isn't much leeway at the top of the betting, but Mythical Bay is a better horse than we saw at York for sure, and Galilean Quality also holds an entry in the following Old Borough Cup.

It could open the way for us if he were to switch.

Saturday, Haydock, 15:05 - Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap Tip: Back Square Necker EW @ 10/111.00

I put up Ashnak last week at 20/121.00 for the column but he wasn't seen on Saturday and again he's a 20/121.00 poke for this, and while I don't fancy him here in a tougher race, you can read what I thought seven days ago.

He has form tied in with Square Necker, and another of my York chums who I fancied and he wasn't totally disgraced in the Ebor itself.

Square Necker had settled nicely in the early part of the race in the bun fight taking a postiion over the fair side, and he was in a similar situation to the Ebor winner Daquiri Bay for about half of the race.

However, it was all change into the straight, Daquiri Bay took a different route going to his left, while Square Necker went to his right and found himself behind a wall of horses. He also appeared to just get caught out for pace in the straight too.

He beat Ashnak at Ayr on soft going in June and won off a very steady pace with a finish speed of 115% and he saw out the trip well at Hamilton previously.

It took him a while to get going in Scotland and Sam James, who rode him up the hill, said he was still quite young and inexperienced.

A trip suits him and he's another of my York alumni who deserves another chance for redemption.

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, EW WON 12/1
Lookaway, Kempton, EW 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

August: Calendar Girl EW WON 14/1

Now read more tips and previews here!