Blaze out to prove too hot to handle at Haydock Park

Blazeon Five will bid to open her account for 2026 when making the long journey north to Haydock Park on Saturday in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap.

Having rattled up a hat-trick of wins on her final three starts last year with victories at Ascot, Nottingham and Southwell the evergreen eight-year-old enjoyed a solid spin back on the turf when chasing home Call My Bluff at Newbury last time out.

And with the handicapper leaving her mark of 92 alone Alan hopes that the daughter of Indian Haven can once again put up a bold show in the extended two mile test at the Merseyside venue.

Alan said: “This is a valuable handicap, but she ran a lovely race on her return to the turf at Newbury. The ground should be in her favour. It is soft at the moment but it might dry to good to soft and that should still be fine.

“Rossa (Ryan) rides her and he gets on very well with her. She has been great for the yard. It is competitive race as it is entitled to be for the money, but I hope she has a good each-way chance.”

Over at York on the same afternoon Plan C will make his return to action when stepping up to an extended mile and a quarter for the first time in the Yorkshire Regiment Handicap.

Although without a win in three starts at two, the son of Sioux Nation progressed with each outing before ending the campaign finishing second behind French Derby entrant Accredit to earn an opening mark of 79.

Alan said: “He is a lovely three year old. He had a little hold up as he pulled some muscles early on in the spring so he is just ready to start back, but he is horse we have always liked. He will run well, however whatever he does he will improve for the run.”

While this week has been a relatively quiet one for Alan and his team there has been some success for the yard to celebrate after Wisper recorded a third win at her beloved Windsor in the Find Us At fitzdares.com Handicap.

Alan said: “She seems to love the place as that is her third win around there. I know she only won by half a length, but she did it very smoothly. I’m delighted for everyone as they are a very enthusiastic team so it was great.

“We will look to try and find another race at Windsor or Goodwood for her. She is in a good place this year. I’m getting to know her now and I’m very happy with her.”

And on Tuesday at Nottingham stablemate Atlas Mountain took a significant step forward from his comeback run at Newbury when finishing a close up third in the £9 Racedays At Nottingham Novice Stakes over an extended mile.

Alan said: “That was a much better run and he is really coming on. He just got a little bit unbalanced on some of those ridges up the straight, but he was going well at the finish.

“We will have to see what mark he gets next week, but I would imagine that he will step up in trip to ten furlongs now. He wouldn’t want fast ground.”

Last week also saw Heroics make his handicap debut in the Frank Whittle Partnership Handicap at York.  Although the son of Ulysses had to settle for fourth it was a run that offered plenty of encouragement going forward.

Alan said: “It was a good run at York as it was a big ask for him on his handicap debut. He will have learnt plenty for that so it was pleasing. The handicapper dropped him a pound for it as well.

“He travelled into it well, but he was just a bit green when he got there as he didn’t quite know what to do. He will have learned plenty for that.”

And away from the racetrack Alan has also been busy in the sales ring once again after purchasing two new recruits at the Goffs Spring Store Sale.

Alan added: “That was the plan to get a couple up at Doncaster. We had a long list and we managed to get two of them. We ended up getting a Gentlewave colt and a Maxios gelding.

“Trade was very strong, but we are happy enough with the two we purchased.”