16:05 Haydock

Saturday 10 June 2017

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 1m 32.97s

(4)

Breton Rock²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D M Simcock| OR: 112| CD

11/4

Has a soft ground C&D win to his name in the Listed Spring Trophy three years ago and was a heavy ground winner of the Group Three Criterion Stakes at Newmarket last summer, with seven wins over this trip to his name, including a Group Two. Excellent CV then and after a recent Group One pipe-opener when third, he looks the one to beat.

Form: 41510-3

(8)

Jallota⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: J P Spencer| T: C Hills| OR: 111| CD

6/1

Won a French Group Three over this trip last year and also goes well with cut in the ground. Thoroughly consistent performer who returned with a 2L second in Group Two company at Sandown in April and should again be thereabouts.

Form: 33123-3

(3)

Absolutely So²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 109| D

6/1

Has not won for two years now, but does have a Listed success over this trip to his name and was beaten just a neck over C&D at that level (good) last time out. Should again be competitive, though while he has won on good to soft ground, genuine soft conditions would not be ideal.

Form: 635-042

(6)

Dream Walker^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 95| D

50/1

Has numerous handicap wins to his name, largely over 7f-1m and is most at home on soft ground. That said, his level of form is insufficient to suggest that he is capable of winning at this level.

Form: 530-800

(5)

Growl²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: G Lee| T: R A Fahey| OR: 114

7/1

Produced a superb run to be a 1L runner-up in the Group One British Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot in October, following up by posting a Listed success at Doncaster. Goes well on soft ground and should be much better for his reappearance run at York in Group Two company. A leading contender.

Form: 26210-7

(2)

Mitchum Swagger²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: D R Lanigan| OR: 108| C| D

3/1

Well behind Breton Rock at Newbury last time, that coming after the benefit of a run already this term. Was beaten just a head (1m, soft) here in a Group Three in September, so is up to this grade and a strongly run 7f looks sure to suit. First time that the former champion has been booked for the ride and looks likely to be thereabouts.

Form: 2205-57

(7)

So Beloved²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 108| CD

8/1

Goes on any ground and races over his optimum trip today, while he already has a Group Three win to his name from 2015. Adding to those positives is optimism that he might reach fever pitch today after a good run in Listed company here last time. Each-way claims.

Form: 5430-53

(1)

That Is The Spirit³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 100| CD

16/1

All six of his wins have been over this trip, with his best form being shown on good to soft/soft ground. As a dual Listed scorer (including at this venue), he should be competitive at this level, though he has never really shown that whenever he has been stepped up. Others preferred on this occasion.

Form: 7169-13

Non-Runners

(9)

Hillbilly Boy²⁹

Weight: 9-0| Age: 7

T: Tom Dascombe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Breton Rock (11/4), Mitchum Swagger (3/1), Absolutely So (6/1), Jallota (6/1), Growl (7/1), So Beloved (8/1), That Is The Spirit (16/1), Hillbilly Boy (16/1), Dream Walker (50/1)

Mitchum Swagger may be able to do better than he did against BRETON ROCK at Newbury last time, but the top weight was still well ahead there and without the benefit of a run. so he can confirm both that form and his superiority over the rest of the field. Jallota looks to be one who can make a race of it, while Growl should do better for his York pipe-opener and has claims.