Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RAPID FIRE
Bell’s ace can strike gold in Silver Bowl at Haydock
FIRE BRIGADE is fancied to extend trainer Michael Bell’s hot streak by landing the Silver Bowl Handicap (2.55) at Haydock.
A gelding operation last October has made a man of the son of Firebreak – he returned to land a Chelmsford handicap the following month before signing off for 2016 with a fair second at Kempton six days later. Fire Brigade was beaten a neck and a short head over seven furlongs at Yarmouth last month on his return but made full use of the step up to a mile to score at Newmarket nine days ago. This afternoon’s test is a good deal more competitive, but Fire Brigade has the potential to shrug off a 7lb rise in the weights. The Group 2 Sandy Lane Stakes HARRY ANGEL. (3.30) should go to Clive Cox’s Dark Angel colt, the winner of the Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury last September, was attempting to give Godolphin’s Blue Point 4lb at Ascot at the start of the month when finishing second in the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes. That rates the strongest form on offer and a reproduction of it will make Adam Kirby’s mount very hard to beat. Earlier on the Haydock card, PARIS PROTOCOL should profit from a first attempt at two miles in the handicap (2.20). HARRISON At York, has more to offer after a last-time-out score at Chelmsford and rates the value in the Grand Cup (2.40). GAMESOME has a long losing run to break, but has run well over York’s six furlongs before and should do so again in the Unibet Sprint Handicap (3.50). Goodwood course specialist MOUNT LOGAN (above) holds the aces in the Festival Stakes (2.00) in AARDWOLF West Sussex, while looks a potent force in the 3.10.