Saturday Racing Tips: Back Blue to Wave goodbye to his Borough Cup rivals

With most standing their ground at declaration time on Thursday, I've little more to add to my ante-post summary of the Haydock Sprint Cup at 15:45.

Suffice to say that I still think Watchable is the best value in the race at odds of 25-1 or better - read the ante-post column here - but it has to be said it is a devilishly difficult race to call and you can't rule out any of the 17 runners with confidence.

*****

Sticking with Haydock, Sir Mark Prescott's High Secret is unsurprisingly favourite for the Old Borough Cup at 14:35 having shown progressive form all season.

He continues to edge up the weights, though, and has not been missed by the layers, and I prefer the chances of Blue Wave for Mark Johnston, who has won this three times in the last nine years, at odds of 11.010/1.

He didn't have a runner in this last year and his best chance this season looked to be Melrose winner Polarisation, but he heads to a hot race at Ascot and instead Johnston relies on Old Newton Cup winner Notarised and Polarisation's "owner-mate" Blue Wave.

Notarised got an easy lead when winning here in July and has had a long season - this will be his 11th run since April - whereas Blue Wave is having only his fourth run of the campaign and the Glorious Goodwood winner served notice that he still has plenty to give when a cracking third to a couple of Gabrial's (King and Star) in a Listed handicap at Chester last time.

There's nothing between him and second-place Gabrial's Star at the weights on that run, but his win record is considerably better and he looks better value for a trainer who began September with five winners and a second from his first seven runners.

Oasis Fantasy is a big player but he has had too many chances now, while Excellent Result also interested me and nearly made it an as a saver.

*****

In the 15:10 it might be worth giving another chance to Snap Shots back at the scene of some of his best form at odds of 15.014/1.

Tom Dascombe's runner didn't show an awful lot in a first-time visor at Thirsk last time, but he could never get to the lead from a middle draw and 6f in a big field is too much of a test for him anyway. And he has been dropped 1lb for it.

Drawn on one of the flanks in 17 this time, he is back at his best trip, and this usually consistent performer can go close for a trainer whose horses invariably go well at this track. For his part, Snap Shots has won and been second in two Haydock outings.

*****

The 14:20 at Kempton looks fiercely competitive, but it could contain the bet of the day in the shape of Bold Prediction, who appears to have become well handicapped very quickly.

A late starter this campaign for his new stable, he has been dropped 3lb to a mark of 87 following a down-the-field effort over course and distance last time and that run certainly wasn't devoid of promise.

Of course, his improvement at the end of last season, which included a close second at Carlisle followed by a third to Big Baz when that now 102-rated handicapper was running off just 84, came on turf.

But, prior to that sighter a couple of weeks ago, Bold Prediction's form figures on Tapeta and Polytrack read 21351 and his sole win of 2014, the run that kick-started his steady run of improvement, came at Wolverhampton and was a clear career-best at the time.

Often a front-runner and always a prominent racer, Bold Prediction is perfectly drawn in stall one to attack and despite the size of the field there are only a couple of likely rivals for the pace, one of which, Mutawathea, is drawn very wide.

He rates a fair bet at around the 26.025/1 mark to take this valuable prize.

*****

Finally at Ascot, Field Of Dream, one of the veterans of the party in the 14:50, is surely worth considering at odds of 17.016/1.

Jamie Osborne's eight-year-old has become a bit of a star in his later years, having won a Bunbury Cup at the age of six and, 11 months on, taking the Royal Hunt Cup.

That win came off a mark of 101 yet after just four runs Field Of Dream has dropped a total of 8lb this season and is now 2lb lower than when winning at Ascot.

He is clearly handicapped to win on his best form, then, and only three weeks ago gave clear indication that he was about to hit top form when a two-length fourth of 16 to Farlow at Doncaster.

The winner was a good fourth in a big handicap at Goodwood last Saturday, so the form is solid and Field Of Dream, in first-time cheekpieces, makes plenty of appeal in a competitive race.

Outer Space, a heavily punted and cosy winner under Jamie Spencer at Kempton last time, has been threatening to win a decent prize for a while now and could go well for new pilot William Carson, with Spencer unable to get down to 8st 4lb, and he rates the main danger.

Recommended Bets

Back Bold Prediction at 26.025/1 in the 14:20 at Kempton
Back Blue Wave at 11.010/1 in the 14:35 at Haydock
Back Field Of Dream at 17.016/1 in the 14:50 at Ascot
Back Snap Shots at 15.014/1 in the 15:10 at Haydock

Already Advised

Back Watchable 33/1 E/W in the 15:45 at Haydock (Sportsbook)