13:50 Haydock

Saturday 8 September 2018

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1516:5017:25

Read Luke Morris Blog At Unibet Handicap

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 3m 13.09s

(7)

Dramatic Queen⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: D Tudhope| T: W J Haggas| OR: 96

14/1

Won a Yarmouth novice event 11-months ago. Has improved on that effort twice in Listed company this season (1m2f/1m4f). Up 4lb and also up in trip for her handicap debut. Dam won at up to 2m, so scope for more and should give a good account.

Form: 31-43

(6)

Elegiac³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: R Kingscote| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95| BF

7/1

Dual winner over 1m4f this season (good to firm/soft). Shade disappointing when held from this mark at Chelmsford (1m6f, AW) last time. Can't be written off after that, but clearly more needed.

Form: 201314

(5)

Mekong¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 94| BF| D

9/4

Dual winner this season, first in a Leicester novice event (1m2f, heavy) and more recently at Chelmsford (1m6f, AW) in handicap company. Eeked out a bit more despite defeat at York last time. 3lb rise requires better still, but he is considered.

Form: 4-17214

(4)

Natural History¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 90

7/2

Has made progress with each run and broke his duck at Chepstow (1m4f, good) last time with an authoritative effort in a 0-85. 11lb rise for that does not look excessive, but will clearly require some improvement. Looks likely to stay. Claims.

Form: 3-361

(2)

Persian Lion³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: N G McCullagh| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 86

11/2

Improving Irish raider who couldn't win in maiden company, but obliged when stepped up to 1m7f on his handicap debut at Leopardstown (good to firm) last month. 6lb higher today, but there looked to be a fair bit more in the tank. Claims.

Form: 5421

(3)

Soto Sizzler³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: J Quinn| T: W J Knight| OR: 85

9/2

Similar in profile to several here in that he has improved with each run and broke his duck last time at the fifth attempt, staying on strongly to win going away at Goodwood (1m4f, good). 6lb rise fair. Bit to prove over this far, but in the mix.

Form: 05231

(9)

Sea Youmzain³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 85| C| D

16/1

Triple winner this season at up to this trip, over which she scored at Catterick last time in a 0-85. Up 2lb for that and in a tougher race, but remains unexposed and is not ruled out.

Form: 114631

Non-Runners

(8)

Ben Vrackie¹⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: J & T Gosden J: Non Runner

(1)

Rude Awakening³⁵

Weight: 8-10| Age: 3

T: Sir Mark Prescott J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Mekong (9/4), Natural History (7/2), Ben Vrackie (7/2), Soto Sizzler (9/2), Persian Lion (11/2), Elegiac (7/1), Rude Awakening (10/1), Dramatic Queen (14/1), Sea Youmzain (16/1)

A competitive start to the card where it isn't easy to write off any of the field. Ben Vrackie is an improving colt who now switches to a handicap from his second in a Group 3 last time. However, this will not be easy from a mark of 104 and he may be vulnerable. The suggestion is NATURAL HISTORY, who won what was admittedly a weaker race with some authority last time and looks as though he will get this trip. He will need to improve, but that looks more than likely. Persian Lion is an interesting contender, with Dramatic Queen, Mekong, Rude Awakening and Goodwood winner Soto Sizzler all very much respected.