Market support for either Anomaly or Conduct on their respective returns from absence would look significant but as things stand we're happy to side with the Alan Bailey-trained Strictly Silver, who arrives here at the top of his game. The four-year-old posted a career-best when winning a useful Wolverhampton handicap in March and he has returned to that level in defeat on his last three outings, shaping particularly well when sixth to Viewpoint at Glorious Goodwood. He briefly looked the chief threat to the principals that day before fading as his wide passage took its toll, but he is not one to overlook here with the cheekpieces refitted.
Newmarket's 16:10 is a fiendishly competitive handicap staged over seven furlongs but it may be worth taking a punt on Common Touch, who is handicapped to win and caught the eye in the International Stakes a fortnight ago. The five-year-old was successful twice for Richard Fahey last year and, though he hasn't been at his best since joining this yard, the signs were much more encouraging when refitted with blinkers in the aforementioned Ascot affair, suggesting that a resurgence was not far away.
14 runners go to post for Haydock's 16:30 but in truth there are only a few of interest, with one of them being Tim Easterby's Holy Angel. The four-year-old has been kept busy since scoring on the all-weather in February but he is threatening to come good on turf, catching the eye in no uncertain terms on his last two outings as he has met with interference just as he was going to launch his challenge. Robert Winston takes over from Rachel Richardson in the saddle and Holy Angel looks set to have a big say in the outcome of this event.
Timeform SmartPlays:
Back Strictly Silver in the 15:00 at Newmarket
Back Common Touch in the 16:10 at Newmarket
Back Holy Angel in the 16:30 at Haydock
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