Jockey Robert Winston on crest of a wave with Queen’s Haydock runner (From Gazette & Herald)

Jockey Robert Winston on crest of a wave with Queen’s Haydock runner

10:41am Wednesday 5th September 2012 in Sport By Tom O'Ryan, Racing journalist

York-based jockey Robert Winston, who gained a recent win for the Queen on Galleon at Catterick, has been recruited to team up once again with the colt at Haydock tomorrow.

Trained at Newmarket by Sir Michael Stoute, Galleon runs in the Betfred King’s Regiment Cup and is fancied to get the better of older rivals, receiving the handy weight-for-age allowance.

A slow maturing individual, Galleon has not been over-raced. His latest Catterick win, achieved in fairly clear cut style, was against ordinary rivals, but there is surely more to come from him as he increases his experience.

Galleon is fancied to add to his spoils tomorrow with Winston again wearing the Royal colours.

In the Betfred Conditions Stakes, Navajo Chief is selected to take the spoils for trainer Alan Jarvis .

A good winner at York in mid-summer, the likeable gelding ran a mighty race at the Ebor Festival to finish fourth to Trade Secret in a competitive big field handicap.

A reproduction of that form would make him hard to beat here and he is awarded the nap vote.

Huntsmans Close deserves another chance in the Betfred Maiden Stakes.

Trained by Michael Bell, the colt was narrowly beaten at Yarmouth on his debut and was backed down to favourite at Goodwood next time, but failed to produce his best in what was an above average maiden race.

Huntsmans Close remains a horse of some potential and it will be disappointing if he fails to finish in the thick of the action here.

Romantic Settings is closely related to Miss Work Of Art, who did so well for Richard Fahey, trainer of both, last season.

Runner-up at Chester on her debut, Romantic Settings went a long way to fulfilling that promise when fourth at Doncaster next time.

She may not need to improve much on those displays to open her winning account at the third time of asking in the Betfred Irish Stallion Farms Maiden Stakes.

At Salisbury, the £31,000 Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes, a Listed affair, is the feature event on a good card. Tantshi gets the vote to win for Roger Varian, who looks set for a good afternoon.

Tantshi got off the mark on her debut nearly three weeks ago at Newbury. She looked that day as though she could improve a good deal for the experience and, although she faces a tougher challenge this time, she is fancied to be equal to the task.

Newmarket-based Varian has some interesting runners. The Paul Hanagan-ridden Lanansaak boasts a good pedigree and makes her debut in the Quidhampton Maiden Fillies’ Stakes. It would be no surprise to see her run a big race.

Varian also saddles Baheeja in the Lochsong Fillies’ Handicap. The three-year-old has been in blistering form lately, rattling up a hat-trick of wins at Thirsk, Lingfield and Folkestone. She has risen from a mark of 71 to 86, but her progression has been startling and there may be more to come from her.

The well-regarded Glean (1.40), a winner on his debut, and recent winner Perfect Mission (5.20) are two others to consider on the Salisbury card.

 

Racing selections

Haydock (tomorrow)
2.30 Romantic Settings, 3.05 Huntsmans Close, 3.35 Navajo Chief (NAP), 4.10 Calaf, 4.40 Galleon, 5.10 Iulus.

Salisbury (tomorrow)
1.40 Glean, 2.10 Lanansaak, 2.40 Astonishing, 3.15 Tantshi, 3.45 Baheeja, 4.20 Chiberta King, 4.50 Harlestone Wood, 5.20 Perfect Mission.

Tomorrow’s other meetings: Kempton and Sedgefield.

Today’s meetings: Bath, Hereford, Kempton and Lingfield.