Hugo Palmer blog: 'I'd be very hopeful that he'll run well'

This will be the quickest ground Kindest Nation has encountered to date at Haydock, but I don’t think she’s a ground dependent filly if I’m completely honest. I actually think she stayed the mile on soft ground at Sandown perfectly well, but I think the step back in trip will suit her, and she’s well drawn in stall 3, so everything looks in her favour.

Oisin Murphy is back on her as well, which is never a bad thing, and he did ride her when she won at Southwell back in March, so hopefully they can keep that winning run going this weekend.

Kindest Nation odds 

He ran a solid enough race when fourth over the extended 7f at Chester last time, but Richard Kingscote got off him and said he’d appreciate going up in trip, so that’s what we are doing here.

This will probably be the quickest ground he’s encountered too, and the majority of his best form has come on the all-weather, so he just needs to translate that to turf now. Having said that, his run on the grass at Chester last time was perfectly fine, so I don’t expect it to be a major problem for him.

It looks quite a competitive little race, and most of them go there with some sort of chance, but Gunfighter has been in decent form at home, so he’s certainly capable of going very close indeed.

Gunfighter odds

Phone Tag ran really well on his reappearance at Yarmouth last time, and I could hardly have been happier with him that day. That was his first run since November, so although the handicapper has nudged him up a pound, I think he’s entitled to build on that effort. He’s ran well on quick ground before too, so conditions will be fine for him, and this speed-favouring track should suit him also. 

Oisin Murphy rides all three of ours at Haydock, and he’s actually won on all of them before, so a quickfire treble with Oisin on board would be just what the doctor ordered!

Phone Tag odds

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