Racecards
14:55 Haydock Park
King's Regiment Cup Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Form 413444
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer P & M Bowen
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
prominent, chasesd winner 5th until approaching 3 out, no impression, went 2nd again before 2 out, mistake last
- Form 36125-P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 114
- Trainer Mrs Caroline Bailey
- Jockey A Thornton
led until approaching 3rd, remained prominent, faltered and slipped just before path crossing bend after 6th, ridden before 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
Etxalar (FR)
194- Form 23P/DP4-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
raced enthusiastically, led approaching 3rd, clear before 2 out, stayed on well
- Form 5F10P-8
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer B J Llewellyn
- Jockey Christian Williams
held up in 4th, headway 8th, jumped slowly next, weakened 4 out
- Form 141237-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
held up in 5th, headway 8th, chased winner before 3 out until approaching 2 out, soon beaten
In depth
Verdict
MIDNIGHT GOLD is very much an in-and-out performer but we hope that he can put a poor run behind him and come good again here from a handy enough mark, while most of the others want softer ground to be at their best. The Peter Bowen-trained selection acts on a sound surface and races over his optimum trip here. He was good enough to win a Uttoxeter handicap off a 3lbs lower mark in July and he has been hit and miss since then, so we merely hope to catch him right today. Killard Point has a couple of good ground wins to his name and stays well. He has won off a higher mark in the past, but his recent form suggests that he might still be found wanting until slipping further in the weights. Etxalar is not without ability and this is not a frightening mark for his chase debut, so there is a chance that he could show up well, while Master D'Or definitely wants a drop of rain to be seriously considered win material, and Cybora looks to be in the grip of the assessor. Not a race to get heavily involved in and Midnight Gold gets the vote.
Formwatch
Midnight Gold 5-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 10th, outpaced after 4 out, weakened from next, 4th of 9, 21l behind Tempsford (10-12) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Killard Point (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Prominent until lost place 9th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Michigan d'Isop (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May, 15 ran.
Etxalar (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, blundered 7th, outpaced 3 out, rallied to go 2nd briefly last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 10l behind Grand Theatre (11-12) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Master d'Or (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Chased leaders early, losing place when hampered 4th, well behind from next, 8th of 11, well behind Line Artic (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Cybora (FR) 12-1 (10-1) Always in rear, struggling from 12th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Fire And Rain (10-6) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.