9th-Sept-2023

Shaquille will take all the beating here, if he gets away on terms, but that is a big if, he can be tricky at the start, and Haydock’s six furlongs is a sharp, flat six furlongs.  He may not get away with the concession of ground that he gave up in the Commonwealth Cup and in the July Cup.  Also, no horse has won all three races since the inauguration of the Commonwealth Cup.

I prefer Regional.  We had him on side when he finished fifth in the Nunthorpe last time.  He just seemed to get a little out-paced by the speedy horses that day, but he never gave up, he was keeping on all the way to the line, missing out on fourth place by a head.

He has high-class form over five furlongs, he won at York over five furlongs on his debut this year and he won the Listed Achilles Stakes over five furlongs at Haydock.  But he finished third in the Stewards Cup over six furlongs last year, and it may be that a fast six furlongs on fast ground is his optimum now. 

He goes well at Haydock, he is two for two there, and he could run another big race there today.

REGIONAL WON (ADV 14/1, SP 10/1)