19:30 Haydock

Saturday 21 July 2018

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Steve Yarborough Memorial Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 2m 11.7s

(4)

Outcrop²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 74| D

12/1

Dual winner over this trip, the latest being his last Flat start in a Chepstow seller for Hughie Morrison last September. Has not shown an enormous amount over hurdles since. Others make more appeal.

Form: 130721-

(8)

Mach One^p¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 74

10/1

Both wins have come on AW and he has yet to make the frame in five turf starts. Beginning to look exposed over 1m, so goes back up in trip (placed on only previous 1m2f run) and drops 1lb. A better effort would not surprise, but turf form a concern.

Form: 135-445

(5)

Save The Bees^v¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: G C O'Neill⁽⁵⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 72| D

10/1

Has 13 wins, 10 of which have been recorded in July/August, so this is his time of year, though his course record is 0-6. 8lb lower than his last win, at Beverley 11-months ago, so is on a dangerous mark, with 5lb claimed. Revival not ruled out.

Form: 070686

(3)

Laqab⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: F Norton| T: I Furtado| OR: 70| D

6/4

Sole success came in a Newcastle maiden (1m2f, AW) in October 2016 for Roger Varian. Has only showed glimpses of ability since then, for Derek Shaw and most recently, this trainer. Return to this trip is positive, but more needed.

Form: 7-69385

(6)

Maroc^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 67

7/2

0-26. Was beaten 2½L from this mark when second in a 0-75 Newbury handicap (1m2f, good to firm) in May. Not quite at that level last time. Has place claims at his best, but not easy to fancy him for the win.

Form: 224-525

(7)

Berlusca¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: J P Fahy| T: D Loughnane| OR: 66| CD

11/2

Not the force he once was and was ending a 28-race losing run when scoring over C&D (good to firm) from 8lb lower last month. Was not far off that level back here last time, when 2¼L third, but more needed.

Form: 995133

(2)

Servo²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: Miss L C Siddall| OR: 64| BF

7/1

Yet to make the frame from four starts on turf. Won back-to-back AW handicaps at Newcastle and Wolverhampton, at around 1m, in May. Ran well at the latter venue again last time and is now 6lb higher than his latest win. Unexposed but more needed.

Form: 503-113

Non-Runners

(1)

Savannah Moon³³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: K A Ryan J: T Eaves

Forecasts

Laqab (6/4), Maroc (7/2), Berlusca (11/2), Servo (7/1), Savannah Moon (7/1), Save The Bees (10/1), Mach One (10/1), Outcrop (12/1)

A tricky race, with holes to be picked in the chances of all the field, including SERVO, who might just be worth chancing given that he is unexposed and although his turf record does not read well, he has only had four attempts on it. Save The Bees has not looked as good as he once was recently, but if ever there is going to be a revival from him, then it could be on these terms, though he clearly carries risks. Laqab is interesting now back over this trip, as is Savannah Moon, while Berlusca should not be far away.