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Yeats isn't the only one who can land a hatrick
http://www.laytheodds.com/articles/538/1/Yeats-isnt-the-only-one-who-can-land-a-hatrick/Yeats-isnt-the-only-one-who-can-land-a-hatrick.html
Gareth Topham
Wayne Halliday is a professional sports writer,  who has been involved in the betting and gambling industry as a tipster, broadcaster and columnist for the past seven years. He has had a keen interest in horse racing for the past 20 years and regularly makes a profit from his selections particularly on the National Hunt front. Moreover, since the inception of the exchanges and spread betting, he has shown handsome returns in other sports primarily, cricket, tennis and football.  
By Gareth Topham
Published on 06/20/2008
 
Gareth Topham looks ahead to the Hardwicke Stakes on Saturday afternoon, and has all his faith in Maraahel to secure a third win in the race.
Yeats isn't the only one who can land a hatrick

Saturday afternoon beckons and this means the conclusion of what has been an extraordinary Royal Ascot 2008.

The racing is top class again and in race 2, the Hardwicke Stakes, Maraahel is looking for his third consecutive success in the contest. Two years ago he had to dig deep to fight off his stablemate Mountain High. Last year, he had to find even more when it was required to fend of the sting of Ballydoyle's Scorpion. On both occasions conditions were lightening fast as they should be again come Saturday afternoon. Maraahel's love of the track and time of year look sure to play a hand at the business end of the race, and despite being just below top class, this Group 2 always seems to be his stomping ground. He is getting older, but there has been nothing wrong with his two seasonal outings so far. He got outbattled by a superb Darryl Holland ride at Chester on his campaign bow, which denied him a 4th Huxley Stakes. The time after, it was the Lincoln winner Smokey Oakey who proved too good in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown. They were wide apart that day, and the runner-up lost little in defeat.

Tomorrow's renewal wouldn't be the strongest that Maraahel has contested. Lucarno is a fascinating contender but last time when behind Maraahel, it proved that last years' St Leger winner found the sharper distance a little too short nowadays. Ok, this is over 1m4f, which will suit him better, but he still has to prove his wellbeing and at the moment I would prefer to stick with the horse who has been there, done it, and worn the T-Shirt. Maraahel's stablemate, Hi Calypso did nothing but improve last season, and rates a threat as long as she is fully wound up for this seasonal bow in high-class company but she likes a fight and will get one here. Multidimensional has already finished miles behind the selection this season and has been disappointing so far, so he is dismissed for me, whereas the Ballydoyle runner Macarthur ran a blinder last time out in the Coronation Cup behind stablemate Soldier Of Fortune, and must rate as a threat to all.

To conclude, I think that the closing stages will revolve around Maraahel, Macarthur, and Hi Calypso. Twice before the former has lowered the navy blue colours of a J P Magnier owned runner in this race, and I take him to do it again.

SELECTION - Maraahel, 3.05 Ascot (21/06/08). DANGER - Macarthur.