MAKE Corals pay for their involvement at Haydock today. Bookmaking firms are always keen to sponsor big handicaps, reckoning on achieving maximum publicity with small risk of losing on very tricky contests with large fields and endless possibilities.
Ladbrokes have backed the Ayr Gold Cup, William Hill the Lincoln and Cambridgeshire, all three cavalry charges which regularly fall to an outsider.
However, today's £20,000 added Coral Handicap looks to give the punter a chance to get one over on the sponsor.
True, it has attracted a 21 runner field of closely weighted sprinters, most of whom will start at a double figure price as they hare down the five furlong course.
But this is not so tricky a race as the size of the field might suggest, its competitiveness weakened by proximity to last Saturday's Stewards' Cup.
Those backing Laurel Delight will be unlucky not to be collecting after they pass the post. The six year old has first rate claims on the bare form of a recent success at Newcastle, where she made all and held on well to defy insider Trader by a head. There is even better to come today.
After the mare's year off at stud, Jack Berry has clearly nursed her right back to her best form - form which still gives her several pounds in hand of the handicapper. And she has the perfect draw in box 21.
With the stalls placed on the outside, the quick starter will have the advantage of the stands' rail to race against throughout and will be very hard to catch.
Her jockey Paul Roberts may not be a household name but he has plenty of experience in competitive sprints and is excellent value for his 5lb claim.
Dante Stakes winner Glory of Dancer's 7lb penalty makes him worth opposing in the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes, particularly as Paul Kelleway has warned he will need the race.
Best bet to take advantage is Ela Aristokrati, who earned a raise in grade by giving the very useful Tertium 2st and a half length beating in a handicap at Epsom on Derby day.
It was shooting at stars pitching him into the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown next time but he ran very well to finish fourth behind Halling, beaten little over six lengths. Today's Group Three contesting which he goes unpenalised - looks an ideal target, particularly as the firmer ground at Haydock than Sandown will suit him much the better.
Brent Thomson can scupper Frankie Dettori's bid for a quick return to big race success in the Solera Stakes at Newmarket. The Australian's mount Papita looked potentially smart when she ran away with a maiden at Goodwood and makes more appeal than the champion jockey's partner Literary who was beaten at odds on last time.
