Racecards
15:20 Haydock Park
32red.com Handicap (Class 4)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form 0-69137
- Age 9
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer B Smart
- Jockey P Robinson
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra towards finish
- Form 34-0939
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey E Ahern
held up, ridden over 2f out, ran on inside final furlong, nearest finish
- Form 428970
- Age 6
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer D W Barker
- Jockey J F Egan
chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, weakened and eased inside final furlong
- Form 31670-7
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer K R Burke
- Jockey P Cosgrave
in touch, not much room and lost pace after 1f, ridden over 1f out, keeping on when lost action and eased inside final furlong
- Form 02102-5
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer Miss J A Camacho
- Jockey T Eaves
soon prominent and keen, ridden over 1f out, ran on same pace
- Form 016074
- Age 7
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer J M Bradley
- Jockey A Kirby
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 28-4332
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 74
prominent, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on
- Form 172
- Age 4
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer R M Whitaker
- Jockey M Stainton
slowly into stride, behind, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 069050
- Age 9
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer J M Bradley
- Jockey R Ffrench
chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, rallied 1f out, ran on to go 2nd last strides
In depth
Verdict
This is another competitive handicap and the leading lights look to be Steel Blue, Knot In Wood and Pick A Nice Name and the vote is given to Knot In Wood. The selection is from a stable in good form and he has been a model of consistency of late. He was a good second behind the in form Blue Tomato over this course and distance last time and if he can run up to that level today he should take all the beating. Steel Blue rates the main danger as he won at Epsom last time in a race that has worked out really well. However, although he goes on this ground he is probably at his best on a slightly easier surface and for that reason we will take him on. Pick A Nice Name is a lightly-raced filly and she ran a blinder at Newmarket last time when second behind Zidane. She is clearly going the right way and if she improves again she will not be far away at the finish. Currency is a course and distance winner and is on a handy mark at present so he could go well at a price but Knot In Wood has plenty in his favour and gets the vote.
Formwatch
Bond Boy 20-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, one pace over 1f out, 7th of 16, 1 1/2l behind Handsome Cross (7-12) at Musselburgh 5f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Looks Could Kill (USA) 25-1 (9-1) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out no impression, 9th of 13, 6l behind Indian Trail (9-12) at Newcastle 6f hcp 0-100 (2) gf.
Prince Tum Tum (USA) 9-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 10th of 14, 10l behind Imperial Echo (9-1) at York 7f hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
High Ridge 16-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 4th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Blue Tomato (9-9) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Knot In Wood (IRE) 9-2co-fav (9-8) Made most until ridden and headed just over 1f out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Blue Tomato (9-9) at Haydock 6f hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Pick A Nice Name 25-1 (8-10) Steadied start, held up in rear, switched left over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Zidane (10-0) at Newmarket 6f hcap (4) gf in Jun.
Currency 20-1 (9-9) Raced wide, towards rear, driven over 2f out, soon beaten, 13th of 16, 7l behind Bold Argument (9-8) at Windsor 6f hcp 0-70 (5) gf.
Steel Blue 6-1 (8-10) Made most, ridden from 1f out, kept on well, won at Epsom 6f hcp 0-95 (3) gd beating Idle Power (9-7) by 3/4l, 9 ran.