Haydock Preview: Dutch Rose can bloom in Conditions Stakes

Dutch Rose is well-treated by race conditions in the 7f contest at Haydock today (4.05) and can take advantage to land the spoils.

The David O’Meara trained mare is a useful sort whose last four wins have all come at York.

The last of those victories came back in May, where Dutch Rose stayed on gamley to assert in the final 50 yards and beat Siruis Prospect by a neck in a decent class 2 handicap.

The daughter of Dutch Art has run well in four subsequent starts, and among those efforts was an excellent length second to Audacia in a Listed contest at Ponetfract.

A repeat of that effort would make Dutch Rose the one they all have to beat, and although officially rated 7lb below the top-rated Baltic Knight the five-year-old receives 5lb from that rival and also has the services of Sam James in the saddle whose claim takes off another 3lb.

That makes Dutch Rose the pick in this line-up, and this looks a nice opportunity for her to get back to winning ways.

No Poppy has bounced back to form with a vengeance and looks the answer to the 1m handicap (2.30).

The Tim Easterby trained mare had not won for two years before scoring over course and distance on her penultimate start.

The six-year-old beat Maiden Approach by a neck off a mark of 69, and followed up with a solid 1/2 length third to Dual Mac last time out at Redcar off 75.

The handicapper has since put up No Poppy a further 2lb, but the daughter off Chineur still looks well-treated on the pick of her form in this class 4 contest as she won a class 2 contest at Newmarket back in 2012 off 88.
In the 1m 4f handicap (4.40), Xinbama can provide in-form trainer Charlie Hills with another winner.

The five-year-old has been in terrific form this season, winning twice and finishing runner-up three times.

The son of Baltic King has taken his form to a new level, and comes into the contest on the back of an excellent sixth of 16 to Glenard in a very competitive class 2 contest at York.