14:40 Haydock

Saturday 29 April 2017

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:2016:55

Best Odds Guaranteed At 188Bet Handicap

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 1m 26.06s

(1)

Oh This Is Us¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 109

7/2

Very smart progressive colt who won five times in 2016 and rocketed up the handicap from an opening mark of 70. Went off a ridiculously short price for the Lincoln on the back of his rider having won three previous races on the day and ran a very creditable second. Gained compensation for that defeat with a win at Bath over a mile and now off a career high mark back to 7f but hard to ignore in his current form.

Form: 1-35212

(3)

Afjaan¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: W J Haggas| OR: 100

3/1

Improving sort who looks equally at home on turf as he does on the AW despite his biggest win coming on the Polytrack at Kempton Park over a mile. Ended the season with two very good efforts in big-field Ascot handicaps of marks similar to today and looks one to keep onside in big handicaps this year. Has run well fresh and a player in this although 7f has looked a little on the sharp side in the past.

Form: 262174-

(10)

Stamp Hill²²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 93

12/1

Makes his seasonal debut but did win on his first start last year although conditions were a bit softer underfoot and most of his best form has come with give. Will be happier back over 7f after getting outpaced over 6f on his final start last year and faces some very progressive sorts in this.

Form: 52910-8

(8)

Fawaareq²⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Jim Crowley| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 93

11/2

Completed a hat-trick between May and July last year winning a maiden and two handicaps over distances up to a mile. Not seen out though after his last win and returns here off a long break on a 4lb higher mark giving away race fitness to a few of these.

Form: 72/2111-

(2)

Twin Appeal^b¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 93

9/2

Really sprang to life last time out after some good placed performances to end a long losi9ng run stretching back a couple of years. Takes a slight rise in class here off a 4lb higher mark but even at six he's not totally exposed and if he gets a good pace to aim at he could go well again here as he does travel strongly.

Form: 23-3315

(9)

Calder Prince⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 92

8/1

C&D winner who defied what looked to be a stiff looking mark last May making all on soft going. Never quite matched that performance and has looked below par so far this year.

Form: 076-864

(6)

Penwortham¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: Sammy Jo Bell⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 88

20/1

Drawn wide at Musselburgh last time out on his seasonal debut and found it hard to get into the race and not seen to best effect off a career high mark. Both wins last year came on decent ground over this trip but has to try again on a career high mark.

Form: 2781-09

(4)

Russian Realm¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-3| J: Cam Hardie| T: P T Midgley| OR: 88

50/1

Capable handicapper who has been around the block and is now with his fourth trainer and has become hard to win with despite slipping below his last winning mark. Well below form last time out and others look more progressive here.

Form: 8308-06

(5)

Zoravan^v²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-0| J: Shirley Teasdale⁽⁵⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 84

10/1

Has shaped well on a few runs for this yard looking well suited to AW surfaces and then putting his fitness to good use to score over 7f at Doncaster switched turf. Made all and went with gusto on that occasion but has to run from out of the handicap here off a career high mark in a higher grade.

Form: 172177

Non-Runners

(7)

Tiger Jim¹²

Weight: 8-0| Age: 7

T: J S Goldie J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Afjaan (3/1), Oh This Is Us (7/2), Twin Appeal (9/2), Fawaareq (11/2), Calder Prince (8/1), Zoravan (10/1), Stamp Hill (12/1), Penwortham (20/1), Tiger Jim (25/1), Russian Realm (50/1)

Those at the top end of the handicap look to still have improvement in them as opposed to those towards the bottom of the handicap most of whom look held off their marks. Twin Appeal might not be totally exposed for one of his age and he’s interesting as one who travels strongly with Zoravan as one who might be able to take handle the higher grade. In reality both OH THIS IS US and Afjaan are the two with a really progressive profile with the former given the nod as this 7f trip may well just suit him better.