Bargain sprinter Raasel proves his worth to score Listed success at Haydock

Saturday: Haydock

Bargain sprinter Raasel, a Shadwell Estate cast-off who was picked up for just 10,000gns in 2020, took his earnings past £110,000 with a successful step up to Listed class in the Betfred Nifty Fifty Achilles Stakes.

The five-year-old, who has been transformed since moving to Mick Appleby after he was bought by the Horse Watchers with a BHA rating of 81, could now take on the best 5f horses around in the Nunthorpe Stakes or Prix de l'Abbaye.

His owners have made their name with horses picked up cheaply from elsewhere and Raasel has been another huge success story.

Matthew Taylor, a key part of the set-up, said: "He was an absolute bargain really. When this horse was a two-year-old, I thought he was a potential Group horse. He didn't run at three and he obviously had his problems.

"He got to the sale and he had an issue or two but they were things that potentially could be dealt with. He was disappointing a couple of times, we gave him a break and Mick got him right. Since then he's kept on improving."

Raasel, a six-time handicap winner, scored by three-quarters of a length on his step up in grade and Taylor said: "That was absolutely brilliant. He's pretty much bolted up really. They seemed to be going some pretty fast fractions and he's just tanked through the race.

"He's obviously stepped forward again today. I suspect handicaps will be out of the question now. I suppose we're looking at the good programme of five-furlong races.

"I'd like to think we could go to the Nunthorpe or the Abbaye with him — you don't get many ten grand horses that win more than the odd race so that's very nice," Taylor added.

Sea another winner for Haggas

May has been remarkably good to William Haggas, who sent out his seventh Group winner of the month when Sea La Rosa made a successful reappearance in the Betfred Pinnacle Stakes under Tom Marquand in the Sunderland Holdings colours.

The 9-4 favourite scored by a length and a quarter despite pulling hard and Haggas' wife Maureen said: "She was too keen, a bit over excited and fresh. She did well to win, having fought Tom nearly all the way. She's tough. She could come back here for the Lancashire Oaks."

Reflecting on the yard's amazing month, she said: "An awful lot of work goes on behind the scenes, everyone works really hard and we're just being lucky at the moment.

"We've got some very nice horses and they're going well. These streaks don't last forever so we've just got to make the most of it."

Jimi Hendrix strikes winning note

Chelsea Thoroughbreds, whose Sonny Liston runs in the Cazoo Derby next Saturday, struck with a potential Royal Ascot candidate in the three-year-old 1m handicap.

Jimi Hendrix: could go to Royal AscotCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Jimi Hendrix earned a 14-1 quote for the Britannia Stakes from Paddy Power after scoring by a length despite edging left late on.

"He stuck on well and his last furlong was his best furlong," said jockey Jim Crowley. "He probably didn't make life easy for me but he got there in the end. He could run well in the Britannia, a big field would suit him."

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