Much to like about Limato at Haydock

Henry Candy’s four-year-old should be too good for rivals

LIMATO can defy all ground fears in the 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The marvellous four-year-old was taken out of the equation by most firms in the build-up to the Group One, but a dry spell on Merseyside convinced Henry Candy to undergo a volte face earlier in the week.

That he runs so soon after the Nunthorpe at York is probably as good a reason as any to invest heavily in the Tagula gelding, who must be bouncing at home and is a ridiculously good horse at his best.

That was illustrated at Newmarket a few months ago when he produced one of the moments of the season with a destructive two-length success in the July Cup.

He ably backed that up at York. Late rainfall was not especially helpful, but to get to within two lengths of Mecca’s Angel on his first stab over five furlongs was a grand effort.

Back over what is surely his ideal trip, his Sprint Cup rivals will not stand a chance if he is anywhere near close to the form that saw him win so brilliantly at Newmarket.

Rain is forecast again but it did not prevent him winning at Doncaster last season on good to soft ground.

MONTATAIRE can take the next step along the ladder by winning the 32Red Casino Stakes.

This one-mile Listed race, better known as the Ascendant Stakes, has a good track record in recent years.

Foundation struck 12 months ago before he was victorious in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket

Montataire could feasibly follow a similar path for the Mark Johnston operation.

A tough and chiselled youngster, he has won four races in a busy juvenile campaign. The Cape Cross colt hacked up in a Listed event at Salisbury a few weeks ago.

Perhaps typically for a Johnston twoyear-old, he arrives on Merseyside a little underrated for what he has actually achieved on a racecourse.

Montataire must give away weight to all of his rivals.

However, he is a hardy enough sort to overcome that burden – and also has the class to boot.

Meanwhile, likely prospects at Kempton include THE LAST LION in the Totequadpot Sirenia Stakes. SELECTIONS:

HAYDOCK: 1.50 Trainnah, 2.25 Montataire, 3.00 Custom Cut, 3.30 Magic Circle, 4.00 Dutch Masterpiece, 4.30 LIMATO (NAP), 5.05 Yangtze.

KEMPTON: 2.10 Fly At Dawn, 2.45 King Of Naples, 3.15 The Last Lion, 3.45 Sky Hunter, 4.15 Afjaan, 4.50 Blakeney Point, 5.25 Falcon’s Song.

DOUBLE: Limato and Montataire.