15:25 Haydock

Saturday 9 June 2018

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Betway Achilles Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:29 | Winning time: 57.91s

(9)

Encore d'Or^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: James Doyle| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 102| D

33/1

Likeable sprinter but seven of his eight wins have come on the AW and has struggled at this track in his previous starts here. A welcome drop in class but others preferred.

Form: 021260

(10)

Gracious John²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: P D Evans| OR: 101| CD

14/1

Twice a Listed winner but this looks tougher. Rated 7lb higher on the AW and found this type of ground quick enough when down the field in a York handicap. Faces a stiff task.

Form: 701610

(5)

Alpha Delphini^p³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 107| D

8/1

Best recent form has come with cut in the ground but did handle quicker ground in the past. Good run when just behind Judicial in a below-par renewal of the G3 Palace House Stakes and this is his level. Should be a contender.

Form: 8711-23

(4)

Blue De Vega^p⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 98

12/1

Won twice as a juvenile and despite not having too many miles on the clock hasn't won since. May find the rise in class and the quicker ground against him.

Form: 583424

(6)

Doctor Sardonicus¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 101| D

14/1

Rated 4lb higher on the AW but has only had nine starts on the turf. Quicker ground suits him on this surface and wasn't disgraced in the Temple Stakes here last time. Could run well at a price.

Form: 14-6418

(1)

Duke Of Firenze⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: W Buick| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 104| D

16/1

Luckless run in the Dash at Epsom last time and could have easily been heading here off the back of a win. Prefers softer ground but his fourth in the G1 Abbaye is still fresh in the mind and he looks a contender on these terms.

Form: 094-406

(7)

Final Venture¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 101| CD

5/1

Won this last year on soft ground and probably wasn't far off that level with a good run in a York handicap last time. Likes quick ground and should be in the mix once again.

Form: 407553

(8)

Judicial^h³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 107| D

3/1

Consistent sprinter who was a good second in the G3 Palace House Stakes and with his stable in good form and conditions no problem he should be involved once again.

Form: 11426-2

(3)

Muthmir^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 111| D

11/4

Heads here following a fifth behind Battaash in the G2 Temple Stakes over the C&D. He's sets the standard back down to this grade and loves fast ground. Looks the one to beat.

Form: 1443-45

(2)

Equimou⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Eddery| OR: 96| D

16/1

Ran a big fourth in the G3 Palace House but possibility that was a one off as he's never raced to that standard before and was well beaten in the Dash at Epsom next time.

Form: 1440-40

Forecasts

Muthmir (11/4), Judicial (3/1), Final Venture (5/1), Alpha Delphini (8/1), Blue De Vega (12/1), Gracious John (14/1), Doctor Sardonicus (14/1), Equimou (16/1), Duke Of Firenze (16/1), Encore d'Or (33/1)

With Battaash remaining the best sprinter in Europe it may pay to follow the form from the Temple Stakes over this C&D. MUTHMIR was fifth and could be hard to beat dropping to Listed level with conditions very much in his favour. Doctor Sardonicus wasn't far behind him and he's looked suited by fast conditions in the past so could sneak into a place at a price. Judicial is so consistent he rates the main danger while Duke Of Firenze would have preferred easier going but was a real eye-catcher at Epsom. Final Venture is running into form and should make a bold defence after last year's success.