Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Two William Haggas trainees have caught Tom Collins’ attention

There are plenty of great opportunities to win some cash on Saturday, especially if you adore quality racing, as there is Group action on offer at the Curragh, Haydock and Newmarket.

However, it’s a selection of handicaps that will attract most eyes as the Shergar Cup takes centre stage at Ascot. Hong Kong-based Joao Moreira, three-time German champion Bauyrzhan Murzabayev, Japanese rider Kazuo Yokoyama, and French veteran Olivier Peslier bring the international feel, while Frankie Dettori and Hollie Doyle headline the home jockeys.

The Shergar Cup brings together a group of riders who would seldom compete against one another otherwise and, although the event may not be to the liking of some, I find it pretty difficult to complain about a selection of highly competitive and ultimately refeshing events.

My first bet comes at Ascot in the form of Pride Of Priory, who gets in as a reserve in the 1m4f Shergar Cup Challenge Handicap (2.45). This five-year-old has proved rather inconsistent in his career, but he’s always been highly regarded by trainer William Haggas and now returns to the scene of most recent success as he plundered this contest 12 months ago.

Pride Of Priory came into that renewal with a different profile - he had just won his last two starts on the all-weather and was making his Ascot debut off a rising mark of 92. Under Kieran Shoemark, this son of Pivotal travelled extremely powerful in behind runners despite stumbling at halfway and then moved to the front with ease. Under minimal urgings, he kicked clear for a facile success.

Racing Post Ratings gave him 105 for that performance, so it’s disappointing that he’s failed to add another victory since off lower marks. You can make excuses for a few runs - he didn’t have a clear passage at Hamilton last August and perhaps needed the run in the Rosebery at Kempton on his return after a long layoff despite market support - but nevertheless he now comes with risks attached.

The positive is that I thought that he took a big step in the right direction at Ripon last time off another near three-month break and Ascot could be the catalyst for another rejuvenated effort. Dettori takes the mount, which is a big positive, and I have to back him now that he’s a bigger price than stablemate La Yakel.

Head over to Haydock for the other selection, which is another Haggas trainee in the form of Purplepay. This 102-rated filly, who began her racing life in France before joining current connections, has to have huge claims of recording a fifth career success in the Listed Dick Hern Stakes (4.10).

Group 1-placed as a juvenile, Purplepay was pitched in at the deep end all last season as Haggas attempted to steal a top-level prize. She finished seventh in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and won the Group 2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly, before finishing down the field in three other competitive heats.

Connections decided to ship her out to Australia thereafter and she was a complete no-show in two contests - it’s a journey that worked with Addeybb but not with this filly. Following another understandably long break, Purplepay returned to these shores and finished a highly creditable third on her reappearance at Pontefract - a performance that suggests she could still prove a cut above Listed level.

Haggas has won this race with Token Of Love (2014), Sea Of Grace (2017) and Miss O Connor (2019) in recent years and looks to have lined up Purplepay to continue his excellent and admirable record.

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips

Pride Of Priory (2.45 Ascot) @ 4/1
Purplepay (4.10 Haydock) @ 13/2