William Haggas is hoping for more rain ahead of Addeybb’s bid for the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes.
The William Haggas-trained Addeybb is all set for the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes (15:05) at Haydock on Saturday afternoon, with conditions firmly in his favour.
Winner of the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Pivotal gelding was beaten by the re-opposing Elarqam in the York Stakes a fortnight ago despite going off favourite.
Addeybb has proven his liking for soft conditions and Haggas suggested this week he would only run on ground deemed suitable.
That has come to pass with the rain on Merseyside and Addeybb (5/6 to win with Betfred) appeared to have his task lessened when the John Gosden-trained Wissahickon was pulled from the race on Saturday morning.
“He seems in good form. We’d like to see some rain and lots of it, but there is more forecast, so we’ll see what materialises,” said Haggas on Friday.
“He ran well at York, but I don’t think he ran as well as he did at Ascot.
“Hopefully he has a good chance, but he won’t run if conditions aren’t in his favour.”
With Wissahickon out, Addeybb is set to face just five rivals. Raise You (11/4 with Betfred) is an interesting contender for Andrew Balding and in-form rider Oisin Murphy as he drops in class after finishing down the field in the French Derby.
James Fanshawe’s Pondus, Joe Tuite’s Surrey Thunder and John Mackie’s outsider Lunar Jet are joined by Owen Burrows’ Wadilsafa, sixth in the Summer Mile at Ascot last time out, in completing the field.
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