Mitchum Swagger is a red-hot favourite for the mile handicap at Haydock Park today, but while he has bags of potential his wide draw is far from ideal and he looks plenty short enough at 5-4. Oppose him with Ansaab (3.45), who looks generously priced at a general 12-1 this morning.
Perfectly drawn in stall one, Ansaab shaped really well on his first start since joining the Mick Appleby yard when a half-length second at Newmarket last month, despite not being suited by the slow early pace.
Appleby has a fine record with other trainer’s cast-offs and Ansaab looks just the type that he will get the best out of. Able to race off the same mark as at Newmarket, Ansaab should get the strong pace that suits him best in this big field and he can go one better.