18:55 Haydock

Thursday 14 June 2018

All18:2018:5519:2519:5520:2520:55

Silk Mill Bar Ripponden Welcomes You Handicap

Off time: 18:56 | Winning time: 59.56s

(5)

Shepherd's Purse^p¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: B A Curtis| T: D Loughnane| OR: 83

10/3

The long losing run is slightly off-putting (two years since last success) but he shaped well last time out dropped to this grade and off this mark. He's threatening to come good soon though if he can settle a little better; a 0-85 handicap awaits.

Form: 42-9262

(9)

Patrick²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: P T Midgley| OR: 77| D

5/1

Almost three years is the span of his losing run now (on turf) although he did give hope for the future when running well from a poor draw at Pontefract last time. He's now slipped down to a good mark though and can be competitive here.

Form: 577-743

(4)

Ocelot²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 77| D

20/1

Did really well for this yard (good with sprinters) when moving from Tim Easterby last year winning three races (two handicaps; 5f). Progress has started to slow a little since but her reappearance offered something to work on; more to come here.

Form: 11684-4

(1)

Lydiate Lady⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: E J Alston| OR: 77| C| D

25/1

In great form throughout last season winning four times over this minimum trip and improving some 20lb in the handicap. Picked up where se left off on her comeback run posting a career-best but paying for it in the handicap; can be excused last time.

Form: 1241-10

(2)

Jabbarockie¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Rachel Richardson⁽³⁾| T: E J Alston| OR: 77| BF| D

7/2

Ended last season in good form and has continued on the up this year winning off a new career-high mark of 71 at Nottingham on his penultimate start. Had to improve again last time off another new mark (runner-up); better back on a flat track.

Form: 613-212

(6)

Big Time Maybe^p,t¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Patrick Pilley⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 82| BF| D

33/1

Both his wins have come on the AW with his turf form reading 294330. Ran too close to the strong pace on his only turf start this year and still looks a little high in the handicap in this sphere.

Form: 11-3202

(7)

Roman River²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: Martin Smith| OR: 81

5/2

Took another step forward from a promising return in an AW 6f maiden when shaping well on his handicap bow stepped up to 7f back on turf. Quite speedily bred though and should be able to cope with this move back to 5f on his second handicap start.

Form: 20-24

(3)

Iconic Knight¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: L P Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 72| D

11/1

On the best of his juvenile form you can make a case for him being well treated here although he has to be able to build on his Windsor third last time. Strong in the betting last time he goes off the same mark here and should be noted in the market.

Form: 8221-03

(10)

Red Stripes^b⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: L Williamson| OR: 60| D

66/1

Its 20 runs since he was seen on turf having recorded two AW wins in that time and that's the surface all his wins have come on (0/18 on turf). Looked rusty after a break last time out but 4lb out of the handicap and faces a tough task.

Form: 645656

Non-Runners

(8)

Confessional⁷

Weight: 9-12| Age: 11

T: T D Easterby J: J Garritty

Forecasts

Roman River (5/2), Shepherd's Purse (10/3), Jabbarockie (7/2), Patrick (5/1), Iconic Knight (11/1), Confessional (12/1), Ocelot (20/1), Lydiate Lady (25/1), Big Time Maybe (33/1), Red Stripes (66/1)

This looks a complex little puzzle to solve with a couple of the older horses running off marks they should be able to be competitive off now but facing some improving three-year-olds. SHEPHERD'S PURSE ought to be able to land a race in this grade given how well he ran last time out as should Patrick whose down to a good mark and ran well from a poor draw at Pontefract last time. Iconic Knight and Roman River are the best of the younger brigade with the former of that duo preferred whilst Jabbarockie should be happier back on a flatter track. Both Lydiate Lady and Ocelot had fine seasons last year and neither is ruled out here having both run well this year already.