NEXT WEEK sees the culmination of weeks of speculation and hype with the Oaks and Derby finally being run at Epsom.  Before that, however, we have yet another thoroughly entertaining weekend of racing all over the country.  Good quality cards are on shown at Doncaster, Goodwood and York but Haydock is where the best of the action is with two Listed events and a Group Three over seven furlongs.  The aforementioned Group Three John of Gaunt Stakes features a host of intriguing runners in its first year as a Group Three, upgraded from Listed, and undoubtedly the class act is Major Cadeaux.  Richard Hannon couldn’t be in better form at the moment firing in winners left, right and centre and this has to be a positive.  “The Major” was last seen out lasting home to win the Group Two Sandown Mile in late April, for which he carries a penalty in this race, and before that he had put up an admirable performance when second in a Group Three in Ireland.  Before that he had shown more than useful form as both a two-year-old and three-year-old and it looks as though he’s going to get the ease in the ground he requires to show his best form.  The most likely challenger would appear to be Appalachian Trail who won a course and distance Listed race last time out like a good horse but Richard Hannon’s horse should have too much class to see off his opponents.  In the preceding race, a six-furlong event for fillies and mares, Jeremy Noseda is double handed with Perfect Polly and Francesca D’Gorgio.  It would appear that Perfect Polly was the first string on jockey bookings but that doesn’t mean Francesca D’Gorgio isn’t without a chance.  A very, very speedy filly it wasn’t a surprise to see her fail to see out the mile in the 1000 Guineas and the drop back in trip should help.  She showed good form as a two-year-old last season and Noseda claimed the big sprint prize at the course last week and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him do so again. 

Selections – 2.45 Haydock, 8 Francesca D’Gorgio