Don’t look this Gift horse in the mouth if Haydock survives

11:37am Saturday 6th September 2008

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BACKERS looking for a big weekend bonus could do worse than side with Balthazaar’s Gift (3.10) in Haydock’s Betfred Sprint Cup.

The meeting must pass a 7am inspection, but if the fixture does get the green light then Luca Cumani’s speedster is worthy of each-way support at odds of around 16-1.

Only those capable of handling hock-deep ground merit consideration, Balthazaar’s Gift entering calculations by virtue of his penchant for the mud.

The five-year-old will never get a better chance of scooping a Group 1, especially as many of his rivals may not be so equally at home on the rain-soaked ground.

The thoughtful Cumani has also opted to fit Balthazaar’s Gift with a visor, which could potentially bring about significant improvement.

A habitual hold-up merchant, the Newmarket raider occasionally gets himself too far back in the field, making it nigh-on impossible to catch the pace-setters.

It was just such a scenario which caused his latest defeat, failing by a small margin to nail Edge Closer, who got first run having been up with the leaders throughout.

As usual, Balthazaar’s Gift was dodging the bullets behind a wall of horses, and although he did produce his customary late flourish, Edge Closer held on for a narrow victory The opening Listed race is fancied to fall to Lady Deauville (2.05), adding fuel to the fire of folk vehemently opposed to the mares’ and fillies’ 5lbs weight allowance.

It’s an old chestnut which continues to provoke bad feeling, but that won’t worry Paul Blockley, who will be laughing all the way to the bank if Lady Deauville prevails.

On current evidence not one of her 12 opponents are in the sort of fettle boasted by his filly, triumphant at both Salisbury and Bath on her last two starts.

Quite why such an in-form individual is alloted 5lbs less to carry is a mystery, but it’s a massive help for a tight-knit contest.

Having made a strong case for Bogside Theatre (3.40) to win at York, it would be churlish to change that opinion so soon after the abandonment of the Ebor Festival.

George Moore’s four-year-old deserves to win a major prize after going close to capturing Newcastle’s lucrative Northumberland Plate.

“She stays two miles right enough, though is probably better at a mile-and-three-quarters,”

said Moore, bidding to lift the Old Borough Cup over that very trip.

At least any amount of further rain shouldn’t disrupt Kempton’s premier meeting of the year, headlined by the Group 3 September Stakes.

It’s a fiercely competitive polytrack heat, excellent stuff and supremely well-timed given the current climate.

Although Henry Cecil’s Many Volumes is definitely short-list material, Halicarnassus (2.50) is the choice to give Mick Channon a much-needed boost.

Channon’s representative looks sure to appreciate the drop in class having last faced battlehardened war-lords like Duke of Marmalade and New Approach.

There’s nothing of the calibre of those two top stars in today’s line-up, handing Halicarnassus more than a glimmer of hope in the £65,000 showpiece.

The betting for the London Mile Heritage Handicap is almost sure to be dominated by Premio Loco, who won at the course in July.