Racecards
15:05 Haydock Park
Renault Manchester Handicap (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 6f
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 41-9
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey R Winston
in touch, switched left over 4f out, ridden over 1f out, every chance well inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
- Form 2212-11
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 78
- Trainer R M Whitaker
- Jockey Dean McKeown
prominent, ridden and every chance well over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 523225
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 77
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey F Norton
chased leaders, not clear run and switched left over 2f out, not clear run and switched left again well over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, driven out
- Form 0091-84
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Dale Gibson
went left start, led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 51050-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
bumped start, prominent, weakening when not much room 2f out
- Form 4340-84
- Age 3
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer M Dods
- Jockey B Swarbrick
prominent, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 139987
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer Ms Deborah J Evans
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 115381
- Age 3
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer Peter Grayson
- Jockey R Fitzpatrick
held up, headway over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and hung right well inside final furlong, ran on
In depth
Verdict
Garstang is well treated on all-weather form back on turf but has yet to prove as effective on this surface and a safer bet looks to be Damika, who has most to fear from Glasshoughton. The selection could hardly be in better form having won his last two starts and while they have been on a faster surface, Richard Whitaker's colt is bred to want more testing conditions and could well improve further for racing on the prevailing ground. Gavarnie Beau is becoming expensive to follow, while The History Man has disappointed in two starts this term but does have conditions to suit. The lightly raced Makfly cannot be discounted on ground that should suit but a bigger threat is likely to come from Glasshoughton, who has run with credit in two previous stars this term and should go on the ground. The vote though goes to the in-form Damika in the belief that today's ground will bring about further improvement.
Formwatch
Makfly 3-1fav (8-7) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 6l behind Ooh Aah Camara (8-8) at Chester 6f 3yo hcp (3) gf.
Damika (IRE) 2-1fav (9-5) Held up, headway and switched left over 2f out, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on, won at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (5) gd beating Apply Dapply (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
Gavarnie Beau (IRE) 11-4fav (8-13) Tracked leaders, ridden to challenge over 2f out, weakening when not much room just over 1f out, 5th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Garstang (8-12) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (5) pol.
The History Man (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 4th of 9, 3l behind Imperial Sword (8-11) at Hamilton 6f 3yo hcp (4) gd.
Observatory Star (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride and behind, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 17, 9l behind Prince of Light (9-4) at York 6f 2yo hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Glasshoughton 33-1 (8-3) In touch, went 2nd over 2f out, soon ridden, lost 2nd inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Borehan (9-4) at Haydock 6f 3yo hcp (4) gf.
Canina 12-1 (9-4) Soon outpaced, 7th of 8, 8l behind Miltons Choice (8-5) at Nottingham 5f 3yo hcp (5) sft in Apr.
Garstang 7-1 (8-12) Made all, ran on well, won at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (5) pol beating Tous Les Deux (9-4) by 1l, 8 ran.