19:20 Haydock

Friday 10 August 2018

All17:4518:1518:5019:2019:5520:30

Countrywide Freight Nursery

Off time: 19:21 | Winning time: 1m 27.76s

(8)

Xtara^p1¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-7| J: A Mullen| T: Adrian Nicholls| OR: 78

13/2

Carlisle winner has been placed in all other starts. Switched to handicap latest when third of 11 in a warm Newmarket nursery. Chance here off same mark and cheekpieces added to try and eek out a bit more.

Form: 3123

(1)

Dark Thunder²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 77

2/1

Best race to date when staying on third at Doncaster last month over 6f. Step up in trip may suit and switches to handicap for first time with mileage in this opening mark.

Form: 3353

(5)

Iconic Choice⁶

Age: 2| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 75

5/1

Newbury novice winner flopped in his next start when upped to 7f here but better effort next when third off today's mark in Hamilton nursery. Worth another try at the trip but stable jockey prefers Dark Thunder.

Form: 4143

(6)

Treasure Quest¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: B J Meehan| OR: 74

5/1

Fourth at Newmarket latest on handicap debut and only a neck behind Xtara. Pair should be closely matched again at the same weights but rival slightly more open to improvement.

Form: 649224

(7)

Sword Of Gold²²

Age: 2| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 72

11/1

Unplaced in four starts and had a couple of these rivals in front at Newmarket latest where he faded inside the final furlong. Gets 2lb back but others make more appeal.

Form: 8647

(3)

So Hi Storm¹⁴

Age: 2| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: K R Burke| OR: 66

11/2

Unplaced in novice events first three before third of six on handicap debut at Thirsk last month. More needed here but step up to 7f might be in his favour so could go well.

Form: 8473

(2)

Dreamseller²¹

Age: 2| Weight: 8-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 61

13/2

Not showed a huge amount in three 6f novice events to date at Ripon (twice) and Pontefract (latest). More needed now he steps into handicaps but extra furlong might help.

Form: 485

(4)

The Fluter^t⁵

Age: 2| Weight: 8-0| J: Andrew Breslin⁽⁷⁾| T: A Berry| OR: 56

33/1

Most experienced runner in the field but only made the frame once when third in a Cattterick seller. Hard to see him being good enough despite a feather weight.

Form: 657634

Forecasts

Dark Thunder (2/1), Iconic Choice (5/1), Treasure Quest (5/1), So Hi Storm (11/2), Xtara (13/2), Dreamseller (13/2), Sword Of Gold (11/1), The Fluter (33/1)

The consistent XTARA made a nice start to his handicapping career at Newmarket in a race likely to prove stronger than this one. He should take all of the beating based on that effort. Dark Thunder, one of two for Tom Dascombe looks a big threat. He appears sure to be suited by this step up to 7f so could prove well treated on his handicap debut. Treasure Quest is closely matched with the selection based on their clash at Newmarket so he has to enter calculations.