15:00 Haydock

Saturday 9 September 2017

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

32Red Be Friendly Handicap

Off time: 15:03 | Winning time: 1m 1.84s

(7)

Green Door^v⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 100| D

12/1

Acts well with cut in the ground though is not easy to win with, despite running some very good races in defeat. That was the case in Listed company last time and he looks to be on a stiff mark as a result for this return to handicapping.

Form: 1-03734

(4)

Copper Knight^t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 98| D

10/1

Began the campaign well, scoring at Chester and York, the latter in slightly better company than this. Handicapper took his measure, but is now beginning to relent. Acts on good to soft and has each-way claims.

Form: 113046

(13)

Boom The Groom¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: R Winston| T: A W Carroll| OR: 97| BF| D

25/1

Has yet to win on ground slower than good. Back on a good mark having not won for over a year and is now 5lb lower than his most recent success at York 13 months ago. Recent efforts not hugely encouraging however.

Form: 86009U

(1)

Holmeswood¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 97| D

9/2

In cracking form and climbing the ranks as a result of a hat-trick at Ayr, Ripon and most recently dead heating with a stablemate in a similar race to this at York. Up another 5lb for that but acts on good to soft and is a leading contender.

Form: 454111

(8)

Reflektor¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 94| BF| D

15/2

Relishes some ease in the ground and if the going gets slower that won't be a problem for this consistent gelding who was heavily eased when beaten last time. Well held on three visits here, however, and looks weighted up to the hilt.

Form: 8-69130

(12)

Orvar²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P Hanagan| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 90| D

20/1

Without a win for over two years but has now slipped to a mark from which he looks capable of being reasonably competitive. Acts with cut in the ground, though still has to prove that he can hack it in this class of event.

Form: 00-2303

(9)

Monsieur Joe⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-10| J: T P Queally| T: P T Midgley| OR: 89| D

20/1

5f and cut in the ground are ideal for this seasoned campaigner who has a Group 3 win to his name. Now 17lb lower than when last winning at Newmarket in July 2016 and little encouragement at Sandown last time. Hard to fancy on recent form.

Form: 502059

(2)

Distant Past^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 89| D

11/1

A slip in the weights coincided with a return to form when he was beaten just a nose at Hamilton last time (6f, good to soft). Should still be capable of getting competitive from this 3lb higher mark, but clearly needs to find a bit more to win.

Form: 520302

(10)

Soie D'leau¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: S De Sousa| T: Kristin Stubbs| OR: 89| CD

11/2

Won this race on soft ground last year. Now 7lb lower than when scoring at Doncaster in October and has some very respectable form from higher marks in this season. If you can forgive him his latest effort then he looks a major player.

Form: 643380

(5)

Confessional^e/s⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87| CD

8/1

Conditions are ideal for this eight-time winner who took this race in both 2010 and 2013. 4lb higher than when winning at Chester in July but usually very competitive from this mark and likely to give another good account.

Form: 719337

(6)

Mayleaf Shine^h¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: I Jardine| OR: 87| D

7/1

Sole success was over this trip on yielding/soft ground in Ireland last year and his best effort since joining this yard was also on soft ground at Musselburgh last month. 1lb lower than when beaten a head that day and has claims.

Form: 9-40025

(3)

Midnight Malibu¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| CD

11/1

Acts with cut in the ground, although all her winning form has been on good or fast ground. Comes here in cracking form after winning a similar race at Epsom last time, though a 4lb rise means that she is likely to need a career best to follow up.

Form: 620231

Non-Runners

(11)

Aleef⁵

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: Jim Crowley

Forecasts

Holmeswood (9/2), Soie D'leau (11/2), Mayleaf Shine (7/1), Reflektor (15/2), Confessional (8/1), Copper Knight (10/1), Distant Past (11/1), Midnight Malibu (11/1), Green Door (12/1), Aleef (14/1), Monsieur Joe (20/1), Orvar (20/1), Boom The Groom (25/1)

Competitive fayre for its grade and Tim Easterby looks keen to win it with three representatives, including dual winner of the race Confessional, who again has claims, along with both Midnight Malibu and Copper Knight, who looks to have a similar chance. Holmeswood is in tremendous form and will be on many short-lists, while Soie D'leau is on an attractive mark and should go close to repeating last year's success with conditions to suit. However, this race is no stranger to bigger-priced winners and one who will probably fit that category is MAYLEAF SHINE, who acts with cut in the ground and looks weighted to run a big race.