Haydock Preview: Get on the Fast Track to success

Fast Track shaped with bags of promise on seasonal reappearance and can take advantage of a drop in class to land the 6f handicap at Haydock today (3.15).

The David Barron trained gelding won two out of four starts as a juvenile, and looked a handicapper to keep onside when fourth of 10 to Extortionist in a class 2 contest at Newmarket last month.

The son of Rail Link looked in need of the run, his first for 274 days, and kept on strongly from well off the pace to be beaten just two lengths without being unduly knocked about.

The winner has since gone on to land a Group 3 contest at Sandown, and Speed Hawk, Peterkin, Royal Seal and Deeds Not Words – who finished second, fourth, fifth and sixth – have also come come out an won since to give the form an ultra-solid look.

It makes Fast Track look poentially thrown-in at the weights of an unchanged mark of 85, especially as the three-year-old now takes a marked drop in class into class 4 company.

In the 5f handicap (3.50), Sleepy Blue Ocean looks primed to make a bold bid to win the race for the second year running.

The John Balding trained gelding is just 1lb higher in the weights than when beating Imperial Legend by 3/4 of a length 12 months ago, and shaped as if coming back to form last time out when fifth of 14 to Thatcherite at Beverley.
The eight-year-old showed plenty of pace to chase he leaders until weakening inside the last to be beaten just two lengths, and if building on that looks sure to go well in the hands of Luke Morris.

The Mick Easterby trained Day Of The Eagle runs off a career-low mark in the mile handicap that closes proceedings (5.25), and looks decent value to take advantage and get back on the scoresheet.

The gelding came good on his third start last season when readily winning a 7f handicap at Newcastle by two lengths off a mark of 69, and went on to finish a solid fourth of to Smarty Socks in a class 3 handicap at York off 75.
The eight-year-old now gets into this class 5 affair off just 66, 3lb lower than when last successful and his lowest rating ever.

It gives Day Of The Eagle a massive chance at the weights, and he has shaped better than his form figures suggest in four runs this season.