DOUBLE HANDFUL

John Shaw’s racing betting column in association with

HAYDOCK’S Group Three Rose Of Lancaster Stakes looks a wide open affair today with all seven runners in with a chance of landing the £35,000 first prize.

Gabrial is the only horse I’d dismiss as a possible winner. Richard Fahey’s veteran campaigner is without a win since 2016 and is probably best over a mile, so it’d be something of a surprise if he shows his younger rivals a clean set of hooves.

Elwazir looks a very decent beast and brings the best form to the race.

Winner of his last two races, the son of Frankel beat Cross Counter at Sandown in June over 10 furlongs. That’s the same Cross Counter who was so impressive winning the Gordon Stakes last weekend.

Owen Burrows’ charge followed that victory by bagging a valuable handicap at Ascot last month and will likely go off favourite today.

Elwair’s main rivals should be Sir Michael Stoute’s and Mark Johnston’s Communique. Zaaki was beaten on the line by Communique in a Newmarket handicap last month having previously finished third in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. We all know Stoute is a past master when it comes to developing young horses and on that basis I expect his charge to reverse the form with Communique. That’s the message I’m sending you about Communique. Johnston won this race with Frankuus last year and has won it three times in total, as has Sir Michael. You have to say that Communique looks decent value at around the 6-1 mark. He’s won his last two races at Newmarket on good to firm and the forecast for Haydock is dry so he should get his ideal racing surface. Zaaki is available at 9-4 and I just have that niggling feeling he will win today. Fajjaj looks the best of the rest. He won an Ayr novice event two starts ago and was third in this grade at Newbury last time out.