16:30 Haydock

Friday 29 September 2017

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0517:35

Watch Racing UK On BT TV Handicap

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 3m 17.02s

(2)

Royal Associate^b1⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Martin Lane| T: C Appleby| OR: 94

13/2

Should have no problems with the ground as one of his early wins was at Ascot on such a surface (won his first two starts). Tried in Listed company last time in France (ran well for a long way) and now back into handicaps with blinkers on for first time.

Form: 117

(1)

Tor¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Jamie Gormley⁽⁷⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 89| D

9/2

Has really improved since joining his current yard showing a good attitude to win a valuable Musselburgh handicap last time over this trip. Will be no surprise to see him run well again despite running off a career high mark.

Form: 312101

(6)

Taxmeifyoucan^v²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 89| CD

9/4

Form of his Haydock win last time received a real boost with the second winning a Listed race at Newmarket yesterday. Looks to have more improvement in him off a 5lb higher mark and well fancied to build on his C&D win.

Form: 095111

(4)

Comrade Conrad²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: K Shoemark| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 81

10/1

Looked to show some real promise when he made a winning debut at Windsor but his handicap form since has been rather inconsistent. Doesn't look to have made the same progress as some of these and well held last time out.

Form: 15526

(7)

Uber Cool²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: David Egan⁽³⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 81| BF

3/1

There was a lot to like about the way that he shaped at Salisbury last time out and although he failed to complete his hat-trick he maintained his progress. Didn't quite get the run of the race there and must enter calculations on going that should suit.

Form: 55113

(3)

Orsino²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: J Quinn| T: A M Balding| OR: 74| D

10/1

On the form that he showed last time over C&D (behind Taxmeifyoucan) he's got work to do here and he looked unsuited by conditions on that day. Given that race took place on soft it's not hard to have doubts about him here.

Form: 364315

(5)

Nordic Combined²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: B Ellison| OR: 73| CD

16/1

Showed a very tough and game attitude last time out when winning over C&D (beat five previous last time out winners). This will take more winning though and from out of the weights his task looks far from easy.

Form: 1-52901

Forecasts

Taxmeifyoucan (9/4), Uber Cool (3/1), Tor (9/2), Royal Associate (13/2), Orsino (10/1), Comrade Conrad (10/1), Nordic Combined (16/1)

Trainer Iain Jardine has had a good season with his staying handicappers and his record at this course stands up to scrutiny and he may well add to that here with TOR who showed a very game attitude to land a good handicap last time out. Taxmeifyoucan is also progressing and the form of his last win here has already been boosted and he’ll prove a dangerous opponent. Uber Cool is another likeable type and along with Royal Associate that pair are also dangers to the selection in a race that provides a difficult punting puzzle.