The Data Detective: six selections for Saturday
By Andy Stephens
Last Updated: Fri 4 Sep 2026
Andy Stephens pieces together the RaceiQ clues and has tips for Haydock, Kempton, Ascot and Navan.
1.25 HAYDOCK: NEEDLE MATCH
Needle Match has had the fastest final furlong in three of his four races; the exception being when out of his depth in the 2000 Guineas.
He had been an eye-catching fourth in the Greenham before his run at Newmarket and his staying-on second to Isaac Newton in the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown last time also had merit.
His debut win was gained on heavy ground and William Haggas’s Actual versus Expected at Haydock is 1.51 after a treble at the track on Thursday.
2.10 ASCOT: ARCHERS BAY
Achers Bay relished moving up to 1m 4f here last time when he finished off with three “fast” furlongs to run out a decisive winner.
His final furlong of 12.12sec was particularly impressive, although not unexpected given the way he had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat over 1m 2f at Newmarket earlier in the season, when again finishing strongly.
The Wootton Bassett colt, who began life at Ballydoyle, has proved a shrewd buy and can defy a 7lb rise in the ratings.
How the 2.10 at Ascot may look after two furlongs
3.05 HAYDOCK: FINALISE
Finalise shaped encouragingly on her comeback in Germany this month and her near-miss over 1m 6f at Goodwood last September lingers in the memory as she set overly strong fractions from the front, clocking red (fast) sectionals for the first half of the race.
In the circumstances, the long-striding daughter of Masar (hit 8.24 metres at Goodwood) performed wonders to stay in contention. The others who raced prominently all wilted.
She’s unproven on soft ground but her pedigree offers encouragement, with several of her siblings at home in the mud.
The sectionals show that at halfway Finalise was in the lead and 1.59sec (more than nine lengths) ahead of the eventual winner, who sat tenth. However, she had put in a big shift up to this stage and proved vulnerable to her more patiently ridden rival.
3.40 HAYDOCK: JAMES’S DELIGHT
James’s Delight will get the testing ground he relishes and makes each-way appeal in the Sprint Cup, even if the early 50-1 that was on offer has evaporated.
His exploits on soft going include a decisive win at York a couple of years ago when he was fastest through each of the final three furlongs.
The five-year-old’s official rating rose to 110 after that and he looked bound for bigger things, but he has since rarely had the conditions that bring out the best in him.
It’s encouraging he had the best Finishing Speed Percentage when third to Big Mojo on quick ground at The Curragh last time, having also been swiftly into stride (2.18sec to reach 20mph) that day.
His grandsire, Invincible Spirit, was a surprise 25-1 winner of the Sprint Cup in 2002 and he can emulate him.
3.45 NAVAN: DIVINE LEGEND
Divine Legend shaped like a surefire winner when touched off in a fillies’ maiden over 7½f at Roscommon last time.
The Johnny Murtagh-trained daughter of Blue Point was only eighth with two furlongs to run but finished with a flourish to beat all bar Save The Sixes.
She was quickest through the sixth furlong (11.77sec) and then unleashed two “very fast” furlongs of 11.19sec and 12.37sec to get within a head of the winner.
This effort deserves an upgrade, too, as the steady pace was reflected by the winning time being 0.84sec slower than the RaceiQ Par, with the winner getting the run of things from the front.
Divine Legend’s siblings include the promising City Of Dubai, runner-up in the Listed Churchill Stakes at Gowran last month, and stepping up to a mile seems sure to suit.
4.30 KEMPTON PARK: PRIMO LARA
Primo Lara looked like he might complete a hat-trick of wins when nosing ahead two out at York last time, but he had begun with two “very fast” furlongs and then raced prominently in a hot handicap where it paid to be held up.
The five-year-old gelding faded to finish fourth, with the first three home pouncing from off the pace.
Primo Lara’s effort can be upgraded and this looks an easier assignment with Billy Loughnane snapped up to ride.
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