The David O'Meara-trained Morocco looks the one to keep on side in the opening 10-furlong handicap (14:10). He scored in impressive fashion at Redcar last week when dropped in trip, cruising up on the bridle to lead two furlongs out and winning with quite a bit in hand by three and a half lengths from Jonny Lester's Hair. He has a penalty to defy here but should be more than capable of doing so if his last performance is anything to go by and should get us off to a winning start. This is by no means an uncompetitive contest however and there are numerous dangers, no more so than Opus Maximus who looks to be on a very workable mark currently and Spanish Plume who can fill the places at a bigger price.
Next to come under consideration today is the fillies handicap' (15:10) in which Azenzar looks the one most likely to claim the honours. Her best form has arguably come on a synthetic surface as when a promising third to Bold Ring at Kempton three weeks ago, but she has been shaping better and better on turf, winning first time out at Leicester on it back in April. Her third at Sandown at the start of June suggested she was on the way to recapturing some of that form and if she is taken to build on her most recent outing she should be able to get back in the winners enclosure. Mandy The Nag won well at Chepstow last time and is entitled to go close on the back of that result.
Our final SmartPlay today comes in the closing contest, a 14-furlong handicap (17:10) in which Albonny, who needed his return at Sandown last time after an eight week layoff, is trusted to regain his upward curve for the Alan Jarvis team. Prior to that run he had recorded three wins in a row including two within three weeks after his seasonal return in May, and if ridden a little more prominently to account for the drop back in trip he should prove a sufficiently capable performer to take this contest. Spice Fair and the consistent Merchant of Dubai are both likely to run their race and as a result head the dangers.
Timeform UK SmartPlays
All at Haydock Park
Back Morocco @ 2.3411/8 in the 14:10
Back Azenzar @ 3.814/5 in the 15:10
Back Albonny @ 9.08/1 in the 17:10
