Zefferino well set for success

Step up in trip will suit Charlton’s hope after comfortable win at Lingfield

ZEFFERINO can double his tally by winning the Watch Racing UK In HD Handicap at Haydock.

Second on his racecourse bow at Newmarket last August, Roger Charlton’s charge was then not beaten too far in conditions company and was duly sent off favourite at Wolverhampton last November.

However, he could finish only fourth on that occasion after striking out for home far too early and the lessons were learnt as Zefferino was ridden with a bit more restraint on his return at Lingfield last month.

While the Frankel colt took a bit of time to really hit top gear, he assumed control of the race inside the last of seven furlongs and looked a fairly comfortable length-and-a-half winner of what was only an average race.

An initial mark of 83 seems fair enough and the step up to a mile here seems likely to suit on pedigree.

MERLIN sidestepped a run at a very wet Wetherby last week but can make up for lost time in the Racing UK HD Handicap.

He dropped down slightly from a mile to win with ease over six furlongs at Nottingham last time, but Michael Bell pushes him back up to seven furlongs.

That can hardly be a negative, though, as he has shown enough stamina to place over a mile previously, so Merlin must be one for the short list.

Tracy Waggott bids to open her account at Hamilton with two runners.

The Spennymoor raiding party is spearheaded by bargain buy HENLEY who faces nine rivals in the £12,000 Hamilton Audi 2nd Anniversary Celebration Handicap over the minimum trip of five furlongs.

Miss Waggott, yet to strike at the Lanarkshire venue with her previous nine runners, said: “Henley is really well and has won two of his last three starts this season.

“He only cost £3,500 and is a big, strong type of horse that has done really well for us.”

Linda Perratt’s SCHMOOZE gets the nod in the Watch Racing UK In HD Handicap after a near miss at Musselburgh last time out behind Mt Globetrotter.

SELECTIONS

HAMILTON: 5.55 Concur, 6.25 Tough Remedy, 6.55 Schmooze, 7.25 Henley, 7.55 Hellavashock, 8.25 Hee Haw, 8.55 Cheeni.

HAYDOCK: 2.00 New Society, 2.30 Dathanna, 3.00 ZEFFERINO (NAP), 3.30 Sharja Bridge, 4.00 Merlin, 4.30 First Voyage, 5.00 Flowers Will Bloom.

DOUBLE: Zefferino and Henley.