15:15 Haydock

Saturday 30 September 2017

All13:3514:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

32Red Gold Cup (Heritage Handicap)

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 1m 17.09s

(5)

Growl^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: G Lee| T: R A Fahey| OR: 109| D

16/1

Goes well in these big sprint handicaps as shown when runner-up in last year' Ayr Gold Cup and fourth last month in the Stewards Cup. Remains feasibly-treated but below par the last twice and ground possibly more testing than ideal.

Form: 7U6497

(4)

Donjuan Triumphant^h²³^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P J McDonald| T: A M Balding| OR: 104| C| D

13/2

Can be an awkward customer but has won a Group 2 and finished runner-up in a Group 1, both coming in France. Returned to form when winning over 7f here (good to soft) last time and respected in his current mood back over 6f.

Form: 32-0391

(14)

Mr Lupton²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 108| C| D

16/1

Outclassed in the Group 1 Sprint Cup here last time but not disgraced in earlier pattern races, having won a good 6f handicap at Newmarket earlier in the year off this mark. Just has a bit to prove on ground this testing.

Form: 389256

(13)

Perfect Pasture^v³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: P Makin| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 106| D

66/1

Listed winner at the start of the campaign, having landed a valuable race at the Curragh last year but seems to have lost his way during the second half of this season. Feasibly-treated if returning to form, however.

Form: 9-17500

(17)

Johnny Barnes³⁵^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Robert Tart| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 101

5/1

Four-time winner for his top stable, looking better than ever when winning over 7f at Goodwood (good) last time. Having won on heavy ground previously, he commands the utmost respect back over 6f under a 5lb penalty.

Form: 0-74341

(1)

Orion's Bow³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 103| D

25/1

Highly progressive last year, winning five on the spin in varying conditions. Running well without threatening the judge this year until taking a step backwards at York last time. Mark has dropped to interesting levels, however, and not ruled out.

Form: 640350

(12)

Aeolus^p³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P Cosgrave| T: E Walker| OR: 103| CD

9/1

Group 3 winner at Newcastle back in 2015 but not managed to get his head in front since. That said, he went desperately close from this mark on soft ground in the Stewards' Cup at Goodwood so dangerous to discount.

Form: 6-62420

(10)

Shanghai Glory⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Shepherd⁽³⁾| T: C Hills| OR: 103| D

9/1

Listed winner at the Curragh last year and all four wins have come with cut in the ground. Only had a light campaign this year and seemed to be coming nicely to the boil when a close third at Ripon (6f, good). Respected.

Form: 041-053

(11)

Stake Acclaim¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 101| D

20/1

Returned to form with a 5f win at Ascot (good to soft) last month, having won over 6f at Windsor earlier in the year but twice beaten off a revised mark since. Just looks up against it in such a hot race.

Form: 260130

(16)

Rene Mathis¹⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: K Shoemark| T: R A Fahey| OR: 100| D

33/1

Acts on any ground and useful on his day, as he proved when winning a decent conditions event over 7f at Thirsk last time out in April. Subsequent absence suggests an issue and he returns on a tough-looking mark.

Form: 4-29501

(3)

Kickboxer¹³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: D C Costello| T: M Appleby| OR: 100| CD

33/1

Left Godolphin after an unsuccessful spell last season but appeared to have been revived on the evidence of a winning start for this yard over 5f at Thirsk (soft) in May. Not seen out since but has won both starts here.

Form: 30/580-1

(7)

Sainted⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Haggas| OR: 99| CD

9/2

Progressive filly who looked better than ever when landing a handicap in good style over C&D (good to soft) last time out. Handles testing ground and looks sure to go well, despite an 8lb rise and this being a harder race.

Form: 1/21-161

(9)

Withernsea²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Sammy Jo Bell⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 99| BF

10/1

More renowned for exploits over further and has not been beaten far in some good handicaps since winning off a 6lb lower mark at Newbury (7f, soft) earlier in the year. Will love the ground but 6f may prove too sharp.

Form: 100343

(15)

Get Knotted^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 99| D

14/1

Enjoyed a good season in 2016 and holding his form well again this year, regaining winning habits at York (7f, good to soft) in July. Solid efforts twice since, most recently over 6f at Ascot (soft) but this demands more.

Form: 945143

(8)

Glenrowan Rose⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 99| D

33/1

Really sprung to life this summer with a hat-trick of handicaps wins over 5f and 6f, including on soft ground at Catterick. Pulled up after losing his action at Pontefract last time and faced with a career-high mark.

Form: 97111P

(2)

Ice Age²⁰^{(ex 8)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 91| D

7/1

Has taken his form to a completely new level recently, comfortably completing hat-trick in 22-runner handicap at the Curragh (6f, soft) earlier this month. Shortlist material, though defying an 8lb penalty will take some doing in this company.

Form: 347111

(6)

Doc Sportello^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 98| D

66/1

Successful on the AW over 5f at Newcastle in January but soundly beaten in five subsequent starts, including twice for a new yard. Not hard to look elsewhere despite the re-fitting of cheekpieces.

Form: 100067

Forecasts

Sainted (9/2), Johnny Barnes (5/1), Donjuan Triumphant (13/2), Ice Age (7/1), Shanghai Glory (9/1), Aeolus (9/1), Withernsea (10/1), Get Knotted (14/1), Mr Lupton (16/1), Growl (16/1), Stake Acclaim (20/1), Orion's Bow (25/1), Glenrowan Rose (33/1), Kickboxer (33/1), Rene Mathis (33/1), Perfect Pasture (66/1), Doc Sportello (66/1)

The Ayr Gold Cup in another guise and seemingly every bit as competitive. The progressive pair Sainted and Ice Age clearly have to come into the equation but are each carrying much more weight in better company and SHANGHAI GLORY may offer better value. Charlie Hills' gelding was good enough to win a Listed event last autumn and has impressed in a light campaign this year, signalling his time was near when going close from a poor draw in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon last time. Recent Goodwood winner Johnny Barnes and Stewards' Cup runner-up Aeolus are others to consider.