3 minute read

Sam King tipped two winners (13/8 and 9/4) and a 12/1 second yesterday and he’s back with three more selections on a Sunday afternoon that features a pair of French Classics…

The Skybet Sunday Series heads to Hamilton this afternoon and I'm hopeful Faylaq can do the business in the finale (Sky Bet Sunday Series Middle Distance Handicap – 6.45).

Jim Goldie's runner made a highly pleasing stable debut when an eye-catching second over 1m5f at this venue a week ago and looks to tick plenty of boxes this evening. He looked to be travelling best entering the final two furlongs, but Mulrennan found himself having to wait for room and the bird had flown by the time the pair were in the clear.

Coming back over 1m3f will pose no problems and the drop to Class 4 company should also help his cause. The seven-year-old held some classy form off higher marks for William Haggas at three and four and looks capable of recording a first success since winning off 10lb higher at Kempton in September 2019.

Selection: Faylaq – General 9/4

There's a competitive 1m ½ f handicap earlier on the card (Sky Bet Sunday Series Mile Handicap – 6.15) and I'd be surprised if Shaladar wasn't firmly involved at the business end.

The Kevin Ryan-trained contender finished a solid runner-up on soft ground over a mile at Redcar on his comeback and should tighten up plenty for that. However, the return to Hamilton catches the eye the most. It's likely connections have had this race in mind for some time given his excellent record of 2-3 over course and distance. The extra half-furlong compared to when making his reappearance at Redcar will obviously play to his strengths and he returns to Scotland off an unchanged mark.

Tom Eaves should get a nice slot from stall three and an evenly run contest looks likely to suit. There's every chance this gelded son of Shalaa will make a better four-year-old and he looks cracking value to continue his progression this afternoon.

Selection: Shaladar – General 5/1

Paris Longchamp stages two Classics today in the shape of the French 1000 and 2000 Guineas. There are plenty of UK and Irish runners to peak reader's interest and I suspect one of them may be grossly overpriced.

The three-year-old Colts will line up for the Group 1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at 2.50 and American Flag looks a worthy market leader for the home contingent. That said, he looks short enough at the current prices and I'd much prefer to take a chance on Knight bouncing back to the form we saw him produce as a juvenile.

Trainers Simon and Ed Crisford have made it no secret that this horse has been highly-regarded since day one and he looked extremely impressive when scoring on his debut at Yarmouth in September. The son of Mehmas took his form to a new level when landing the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newbury when ploughing through the mud to remain unbeaten on his second start.

Sent off just 9/2 for his seasonal reappearance in the Group 3 Greenham Stakes at Newbury twenty-two days ago he failed to fire and was ultimately a well-beaten seventh. However, the race fell apart from an early stage with favourite Chaldean (subsequent 2000 Guineas winner) unseating Frankie Dettori coming out of the stalls leaving runaway winner Isaac Shelby, who re-opposes, able to dictate matters out in front. Very few got into the race that day and I'd hazard a guess he's much better than that.

The testing conditions at Longchamp should be just fine and James Doyle will likely be able to get plenty of cover from stall four. A full-brother to Group 1 Prix de la Foret runner-up Malavath I'm hopeful French success runs in the family and Knight can provide the Crisford team with Classic glory on the Route des Tribunes.

Selection: Knight – General 20/1