Disclaimer: Compulsive gambling can harm your health and relationships, and leave you in serious debt. If you have a problem with gambling and you’d like to stop, support and treatment is available. To find information, support and counselling on gambling addiction, please visit the NHS website: www.bit.ly/NHSGambling

HAYDOCK PARK will be the centre stage of the betting and racing industry this afternoon with the Group One Sprint Stakes (3.30) and a healthy field of 17 set to go to post for this valuable prize. Minzaat and Naval Crown are likely to be at the head of the market, and there is only half a length between the two of them on Maurice de Gheest from when Wokingham winner Rohaan split the pair in fourth spot, having come from furthest back of the trio.

The biggest factor about that event was that it paid to race prominently so the David Evans runner can be upgraded as can my each-way selection for this race, HARRY THREE, four lengths 10th. As a confirmed hold-up horse that needs pace to run at that was hardly an event run to suit, but the make-up of this top graded contest looks to have an awful lot more natural speed in it.

The likely rain forecast certainly won’t hurt his chances here and the still lightly raced three-year-old could have more left in the locker and around 16/1 looks too big in the market place. Art Power, last year’s winner Emaraaty Ana and outsider and front running Flaming Rib are also respected in a wide open renewal.

The 2.20 is for all intents and purposes the three-year-old Old Burrough Cup, which takes place 35 minutes later and as such looks just as competitive as the senior event and worth exactly the same prize money. By the way, only one three-year-old has accepted the invitation to take on his elders, getting weight for age – recent Melrose winner Soulcombe. 

The William Haggas-trained Tamilla looks just the right type for this staying contest having hosed up in a Ffos Las maiden on soft ground, and then eased home to a comfortable victory in a fillies’ handicap at Kempton Park off a mark of 80. A 5lbs penalty looks fair enough and if this extra yardage brings out more improvement on just her seventh career start (fifth on turf) then it wouldn’t surprise me if she started favourite over the even less exposed Open Champion from the in form Varian camp.

Furthermore, as a daughter of Nathaniel, any rain shouldn’t be an inconvenience and I will be having a saver on her behind the selection. I suspect my pick, SPEYCASTER (nap), will need at least some rain to take any sting out of the ground (two best runs to date have come with give) and like the back-up wager looks sure to relish an end to end gallop at this trip. 

The youngster was very awkward coming out of the stalls when running over the course and distance last time out, but made up her ground smoothly down the long home stretch, only to flatten out in the last 150 yards or so. That run should have sharpened him up, and this kind of test looks made to measure albeit in a very competitive heat.

The Old Borough Cup (2.55) itself looks just as tricky and the aforementioned youngster Soulcombe looks very dangerous off his mark, but in the search of value I am going to row in with Irish raider TAIPAN. Regarded as a possible Derby hopeful last year the son of Frankel has simply not lived up to that level, but seems to be finding his level and form. Lightly raced this season with just three runs under his belt, two miles on soft ground was too much of a test for him at Galway two outings back, but he gave more grounds for optimism with a running on fifth of 14 in a valuable 14-furlong handicap last time out at Killarney. Off the same handicap rating here (97) he could offer huge each-way value.

Despite a rather severe 7lbs penalty for winning at Thirsk last time out, Alligator Alley remains of interest in the big sprint handicap at 4.05, and although severely up in grade this race should be run to suit for his come-from-behind style. The one factor that has led me down another line is the weather forecast, which could turn the ground to good and possibly softer. That same reasoning has also taken me away from the top weight Mountain Peak. He is finally being shown some mercy from the handicapper and would be a huge player, should the ground remain on the fast side of good.

But should we get the anticipated rains then both Barbill and SUNDAY SOVEREIGN are sure to benefit. The former has been taken out of several recent engagements and needs to be able to get his toe in. Down from a high of 102 to his current mark of 86, even good ground would make his a player, softer even more so. But the same applies to my pick who has been running well at his home track of York of late, without the best of luck. The bay gelding was beaten a neck by Illusionist on good to soft in a class two event in May off 94, and now is able to run off a rating of 92. 

At Ascot, have a second look at CAIRN GORM (nb) in the sprint handicap at 5.30. The selection has twice run well here and the key to his chance could well be this easier ground. He is now down to a career low mark in a handicap and will be mowing down his rivals late on, and gets the nod over course and distance winners Blue De Vega and Celsius.

There are so many collateral pieces of form in the National Racehorse Week Handicap over seven furlongs at 3.10, but it would take all day and night to go through them. In fact, several of the 17-runner field have crossed swords on more than one occasion this season. I backed Aratus in the Heritage Handicap over the course and distance at the back end of July, but in the final analysis he was simply drawn on the wrong side of the track (1st of nine on the stands’ side). 

Tactical also ran in that race and was hugely disappointing after travelling okay through the first half of the race before simply not picking up. The display was even more of a let down when you consider he had a nice tow in to the contest down the advantaged middle of the course; he could very well bounce back.

On a more forgiving surface, last year’s Victoria Cup hero and selection RIVER NYMPH has to be the call off a mark only 2lbs higher. This will be only his fourth start in nearly a year and there was plenty to like about his third behind Vafortino when defending his title off a 56 day break. There was nothing wrong about his 8th of 29 in the Buckingham Palace at the Royal meet, and the key to his chance is that the word ‘firm’ doesn’t appear in the going description. Good or softer will suffice and at a double figure price, he should be hard to keep out of the frame.