Fearless Fallon to mark return to the saddle with Sprint Cup win
THE NEXT chapter in the incredible Kieren Fallon story will be written at Haydock Park tomorrow when he takes his first Group One ride after serving out his latest suspension. The controversial, yet undeniably brilliant jockey is set to ride Royal Ascot winner HIGH STANDING for Willie Haggas in the Betfred Sprint Cup.
There are plenty of pundits out there who feel that he is an unworthy favourite considering he is only a Group Three winner running against supposedly Group One horses in a Group One race. However, he is clearly seriously progressive and has never been tried at the highest level before. I would also add that this year’s Sprint Cup is really only Group One in name and only a handful of these could only really be described as Group One performers.
The other real positive, away from the jockey booking of course, is the possible state of the ground. High Standing showed at Newbury last time that he can easily handle soft ground if the rain does arrive. This cannot be said for the bulk of his rivals including chief market rival Fleeting Spirit. The 7/2 available with Boylesports simply must be taken and I can see him starting even shorter on the day. Let’s not forget the ‘Kieren Fallon Saturday’ effect and the fact that he is owned by legendary punter Harry Findlay who will certainly shorten the price if he wades in.
The one horse I can see running a huge race at a double figure price is Dandy Nicholls’ ultra consistent REGAL PARADE. The five-year-old is another who certainly wouldn’t be described as a Group One horse, but comes here in great form and looks each-way value at around 12/1 if the rain does arrive. He won last year’s Ayr Gold Cup over this trip on heavy ground and if the ground really deteriorates, he’ll be half the price he is this morning.
The Old Borough Cup at 2.55pm looks as impossible as ever to unravel, although the Michael Jarvis trained KINGS DESTINY looks to hold a serious chance off his flyweight. The three-year-old seems to go on any ground and looks likely to relish the step up in trip. I’ll also be having a small each-way saver on PRECISION BREAK who ran no sort of race in the Ebor and will relish any rain.
Over on the all-weather at Kempton and I like the look of the Marcus Tregoning trained MULTAKKA in the London Mile at 3.10pm. He was given too much to do when runner-up to eventual Royal Hunt Cup winner Forgotten Voice when last seen out over course and distance in May and can make amends tomorrow. The stable are in great form now after a slow start to the season and can land another touch with the progressive LADY HESTIA in Kempton’s 9.20pm contest tonight.
The four-year-old filly showed no signs of stopping over one mile and six furlongs at Yarmouth on Sunday and should complete her hat-trick in what doesn’t look the strongest of contests. Finally, MAGNUS THRAX looks to have got into the Nursery on York’s Sunday card on a very lenient mark and should take all the beating.
POINTERS…
LADY HESTIA (9.20pm, Kempton, tonight)
KINGS DESTINY E/W (2.55pm, Haydock, tomorrow)
MULTAKKA E/W (3.10pm, Kempton, tomorrow)
HIGH STANDING (3.30pm, Haydock, tomorrow)
REGAL PARADE E/W (3.30pm, Haydock, tomorrow)
MAGNUS THRAX (2.00pm, York, Sunday)