BIG RACE PREVIEW: Saturday’s Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock is set to be an intriguing affair which we preview below.
Variable and changing weather conditions make it difficult to be specific about the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (4.10 Haydock Saturday). A number of horses would have been declared hoping and expecting to encounter Good/Good To Firm conditions for the race however at the time of writing the going at Haydock has already changed to Good To Soft (ahead of the Friday evening fixture) and more rain may fall on Saturday.
On genuine good to firm ground then the progressive Real World would be a confident selection to continue his rise through the ranks. Incredibly impressive when running away with the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in a very good time over a mile in June, he followed up over 10 furlongs when beating a good field impressively at Newbury three weeks ago. He steps into Group 3 company here though he is Group 1 entered later in the season and whilst his pedigree offers some hope that he will handle slightly softer conditions, he has been impressive the last twice on good to firm ground and so a doubt about his ability to act on a softer surface exists until he proves otherwise.
The admirable Euchen Glen doesn’t know how to run a bad race and he will have no problem with any softening of the ground. Following on from an authoritative win in the listed Gala Stakes at Sandown in early July he looked a little unfortunate not to win the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood just eight days ago as he went down by a neck to the progressive Passion And Glory. If that effort hasn’t taken too much out of him, he should be in the mix here.
At the bottom of the weights sit two interesting three year olds in Fancy Man and Foxes Tales. Fancy Man ran three races in a relatively short period in the Spring and he may have slightly lost his edge when third to John Leeper in the last of these races in mid-May. Before that he ran a huge race in the Chester Vase when looking like the winner until his stamina gave out over 12 furlongs and his two year old victory here at Haydock in September last year now looks very good given the subsequent exploits of the runner up Alanquer. He has a penchant for soft ground too and he could go well at a big price if freshened up.
Foxes Tales is similarly progressive and although he only brings handicap form to the table, he also brings with him an official rating of 109 and that could easily make him competitive. He only went down by a head giving a good horse 9lb last time at Newmarket and he won a hot Royal Ascot handicap the time before on soft ground and so showing that any easing in the ground will present no problems. He is a player.
Of the rest, last year’s winner Extra Elusive cannot be dismissed and Stormy Antarctic will like the ground and could go well. However if the ground is not too bad then Real World would be the choice and if the rain does get in then Fancy Man may outrun his price.
Suggestion: Real World (on good/good to soft ground)
Alternative: Fancy Man (each-way on softer ground)
