Molyneux Handicap

Off time: 20:40 | Winning time: 1m 11.62s

(5)

Laubali⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 68| D

5/2

Excuses when beaten favourite at Yarmouth on penultimate start, and made amends by scoring in gritty style at Wolverhampton a week ago. Entitled to respect under a penalty.

Form: 43-0271

(2)

Qaaraat¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 69

10/1

Runner-up in a 5f nursery at Ripon in September for Ed Dunlop, and left that yard for 28,000 gns after a poor run in blinkers at Haydock earlier in the month. Not one to write off, but must bounce back.

Form: 332-667

(1)

Faithful Promise¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽³⁾| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 67| D

3/1

Has been tried at 1m, but best effort this season when 2L second of 7 to Dirchill over 6f at Ayr last time, and has joined a shrewd yard for 14,000 subsequently.

Form: 6-65982

(3)

Tiger Lyon^h¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tim Clark⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 65

8/1

Won for this yard at Wolverhampton (5f) in December before a spell with Ollier Pears. Gelded prior to latest outing, and probably best excused the run having lost momentum at the start. Market will be informative.

Form: 031-277

(4)

Christmas Night¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 63

9/4

Well below form last time, but had been running well prior to that, and beat a subsequent dual winner when scoring at Beverley (7½f) in May. Can bounce back, although shorter trip not ideal.

Form: 123336

(6)

Finsbury Park¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 62

12/1

Won a novice at Sandown last year for Robyn Brisland, but hasn't fired since joining current yard, and remains opposable despite a falling mark.

Form: 75-0775

Forecasts

Christmas Night (9/4), Laubali (5/2), Faithful Promise (3/1), Tiger Lyon (8/1), Qaaraat (10/1), Finsbury Park (12/1)

A couple of these have changed hands at the July sales and need monitoring in the market, notably Ayr runner-up Faithful Promise, but perhaps the safest option is LAUBALI, who belatedly shed his maiden status at Wolverhampton last week, and may be able to build on that now that he's clicked. Qaaraat hasn't fired this year, but still fetcehd 28,000 gns at the sales, and isn't one to write off prematurely.