Haydock best bet: Midream can continue progress at a decent price
- John Fearn
- 24 May 2024
The rain-affected ground has reduced the field for the Cecil Frail, but there’s enough quality among the seven starters to suggest a keen contest for the biggest prize on Haydock’s Friday card.
16:20 Haydock: EBF British Stallion Studs Cecil Frail (Fillies & Mares Listed) (6 furlongs)
The morning withdrawal of the strongly-fancied Queen Of Zafeen has squeezed the top end of the betting market and made Azure Blue an even firmer odds-on favourite to land this six-furlong sprint.
The Michael Dods-trained five-year-old won five of her seven starts over the last two campaigns, including the Duke Of York Stakes this time last year, and although only seventh of 14 in the same renewal nine days ago, that outing should stand her in good stead for this race.
Planet Sport Bet Daily Special: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Azure Blue wins by more than 4 lengths, get a £5 Free Bet
The favourite’s short price might be prohibitive to most casual punters, who are likely to be more attracted towards the each-way value offered elsewhere.
Electric Storm is expected to lead the challenge after backing up two all-weather success on Kempton’s all-weather track with a promising second of 13 on her season reappearance in a Listed five-furlong race at Bath five weeks ago.
Got To Love A Grey also has scope for further improvement, but most eye-catching of all is the potential of Ed Walker’s four-year-old filly, Midream, who has done little wrong in her three career outings that kicked off with a close-up runner-up spot behind the still-unbeaten Mezzo Soprano at Thirsk last September.
Suggested best bet: Midream each-way in the 16:20 at Haydock
It took Midream less than three weeks to convert that early promise into a maiden success at Windsor, where she beat odds-on favourite Silvretta by half a length, with the front two pulling five lengths clear of the nearest of their 10 floundering rivals.
After a six-month winter break, Midream was eased back into action in a low-key three-runner affair at Doncaster in late April, and she duly obliged by pretty much making all to land the odds at a canter by just shy of five lengths.
This race represents a much stiffer task, of course, but even in her limited appearances she has done little to suggest that she is not up to such a challenge, and with the notable booking of Tom Marquand, between them they could well make a mockery of the difference in betting prices between Midream and the favourite.
- Tip advised by The Profit Rocket on Tipstrr
READ MORE: Goodwood racing tips: Best bets for Friday May 24
