17:40 Haydock

Friday 11 August 2017

All17:4018:1518:4519:1519:4520:20

Betfred TV Haydock Park Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:41 | Winning time: 2m 31.69s

(5)

Hurricane Hollow⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Jane Elliott| T: T D Barron| OR: 70

15/2

Useful hurdler for Dan Skelton on his day and while he's yet to get off the mark on the Flat, there's been some promise on more than one occasion. Won't mind conditions here but may prove better when tried over further again.

Form: 583255

(6)

Auxiliary^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Paula Muir⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes| OR: 70

25/1

Won off a mark of 77 on second start in handicap company but has been largely disappointing since joining this yard. Impressive when winning at Wetherby three starts back but hasn't managed to back that up since. Mark certainly lenient if he can put it all together.

Form: 7-87175

(3)

Donnachies Girl¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: A C Whillans| OR: 69| D

9/4

Has really hit form since switching to handicaps, winning three of her last four starts. Only up 3lb for her latest victory and proven in these conditions. Ought to go well.

Form: 841121

(9)

Up Ten Down Two^t⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Ryan Timby⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 69| D

25/1

Back-to-back winner on the AW at Newcastle earlier in the year but he's yet to score in 12 attempts on turf. Well beaten over C&D last time out and probably wants softer ground to be seen to best effect.

Form: 66/4-117

(4)

Invictus^p³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 67

14/1

Very inconsistent sort who won at Leicester two starts back off a reduced handicap mark but couldn't land any sort of blow at Carlisle last time. Has run well in soft ground before but not one to rely on.

Form: 769718

(1)

Gold Merlion⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Richard Oliver| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 65

10/1

Won a selling handicap at Lingfield last month and only just touched off at Epsom last time out. Due to go up another 2lb for that effort and could be tough to beat from the front.

Form: 4-95912

(2)

Omotesando^p⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Megan Nicholls| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 62| C

11/4

Losing run starting to mount up but he's been in good form of late and both his turf wins have come on soft ground. Only narrowly beaten last time out at Carlisle and gets the services of a top apprentice who has ridden two winners already this week.

Form: 644332

(8)

Lady Natasha¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 59

15/2

Still a maiden after eight starts. Probably has a race in her but may need a little more relief from the handicapper before she's of interest.

Form: 02-2355

(7)

Almutamarred¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Kevin Lundie⁽³⁾| T: D H Brown| OR: 52| D

8/1

Two-time winner but yet to score on turf in his career to date. Only just touched off in an apprentice handicap last month in similar conditions and should run well if he settles better in the early stages.

Form: 7199-83

Non-Runners

(10)

Angelical¹⁶

Weight: 8-10| Age: 4

T: D M Loughnane J: Toby Eley

(11)

Turnbury¹⁷

Weight: 8-7| Age: 6

T: Mrs N S Evans J: Connor Murtagh

Forecasts

Donnachies Girl (9/4), Omotesando (11/4), Hurricane Hollow (15/2), Lady Natasha (15/2), Almutamarred (8/1), Angelical (8/1), Gold Merlion (10/1), Invictus (14/1), Turnbury (20/1), Auxiliary (25/1), Up Ten Down Two (25/1)

Gold Merlion could get an easy time of things on the front end and she's with her due to go up another 2lb when reassessed, she could be hard to peg back. However, OMOTESANDO has been in excellent form this year without getting his head in front and he looks capable of getting back in the winner's enclosure with conditions set to suit. Donnachies Girl is only up 3lb for her latest win and may be the main danger to the pair.