Megan Nicholls Racing Preview – Beverley and Haydock

Beverley’s Very British Raceday and Haydock’s Summer Social are the focus for BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls as she brings her expert knowledge of the horse racing world exclusively to our blog.

The former jockey turned award-winning television pundit explores the key races on Saturday, including the Hilary Needler Trophy and the Two Year Old Trophy at Beverley as well as the John Of Gaunt Stakes at Haydock.

Has she found some winners?

Saturday Racing Tips

Haydock 1.50 – Class 1 Listed Race

Live In The Dream (10/11 fav) should be able to go one better that last time at Haydock. He had a really nice return on ground that was too soft - that was over course and distance.

He’s back on better ground and he should be hard to beat.

Democracy Dilemma (9/1) can go well again, after only just being touched off in The Dash, while Believing (9/2 2nd fav) will likely run a better race than when we saw her recently over in Hong Kong.

But Live In The Dream is the worthy favourite here and will be hard to beat on this quicker ground.

Megan’s Selection: Live In The Dream WIN

Beverley 2.05 – Hilary Needler Trophy

I am going to go Over Spiced (17/2) for Joanna Mason.

A filly that has improved plenty from her first and second start, and the form from that victory at Leicester has worked out very well with plenty of winners coming out of that race.

She’s got a nice draw, is quite straightforward, and has a bit of extra experience over one or two runners in the field.

Megan’s Selection: Over Spiced WIN

Haydock 2.25 – Class 2 Handicap

Divina Grace (4/1 2nd fav) ran nicely on return at Goodwood and possibly got a little bit tired. It looked like he was going to win, disputing the lead coming into the final furlong, but he just faded away.

That was obviously the debut run of the season, but if he has stepped forward from that then I think Haydock could suit - it’s a nice flat track - and he was definitely progressive last year.

Megan’s Selection: Divina Grace WIN

Beverley 2.40 – Two Year Old Trophy

Shareholder (13/8 fav) was an expensive purchase from the Arqana breeze-up sales, and has a big weight allowance off of rivals who have ran and won. He’s by a sire that we don’t know an awful lot about over here.

The cost means it has to be of interest, but I am going against it.

My pick is Moving Force (9/4 2nd fav), who won over course and distance for Richard Fahey. It’s stupid to overlook Fahey’s form at the moment - he’s flying, with winners left, right, and centre. The yard is in top form and Moving Force was a winner on debut and can build on that.

Megan’s Selection: Moving Force WIN

Haydock 3.00 – Lester Piggott Fillies' Stakes (formerly The Pinnacle Stakes)

I am going with Sea Theme (6/1).

She looked to be going places last year before a below-par run on her final run at Newmarket - the reasons for which I am not too sure. But she has been given plenty of time, so maybe something did come to light.

She is returning in a nicer race on decent ground. She’s been very effective on the flat track and she’s still open to a lot of progression.

I think that she’s the one that is probably most unexposed in this field.

Megan’s Selection: Sea Theme WIN

Haydock 3.35 – John Of Gaunt Stakes

There’s lots of pace on here.

The likes of Noble Dynasty (4/1 joint fav), Pogo (6/1), Flight Plan (6/1), Point Lynas (14/1), and Jumby (11/1) all like to be right up there.

So I think it could be a pretty strong fractions and it might just set it up for one that can close.

If that is the case, then it might just be the very consistent and straightforward Ramazan (15/2), who will be ridden handy but likely just in behind the back pace and this draw on a couple off the rail might just allow him a bit of space if the filly does need to switch out and run around a couple of horses.

He’s ideally placed and I like his chances. We’re going to have pretty fast fractions and it might just suit one that can sit in behind.

Despite having the best form and being a closer, I haven’t gone for Witch Hunter (4/1 joint fav) because he’s drawn in one. We have seen so often at Haydock that when the horses don’t come off that rail down the home straight, they can get stuck with nowhere to go.

Therefore, I just think it’s risky going with Witch Hunter, because he might get boxed in a little bit. He’s obviously going to be putting Sean Levy to the test and he’s going to be trying to find a way out at the right time.

But it’s Ramazan for me.

Megan’s Selection: Ramazan WIN

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation