16:50 Haydock

Saturday 8 September 2018

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

Unibet Be Friendly Handicap

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 1m 1.99s

(11)

Blue De Vega¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 95| BF| D

5/1

Former Irish Group 3 winner, who scored in a Class 2 handicap at Ascot last month (5f, good to firm), when 2lb lower. Not quite up to that level in two runs since being gelded, but not ruled out if back to his best.

Form: 906135

(2)

Quench Dolly¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: J Gallagher| OR: 93| D

10/3

Has won 6-23, her best performance being one of those wins in a 0-95 at Goodwood (5f, soft) 13-months ago, from this mark. Ran well for a long way until fading fast last time and record at this level gives her a fair bit to find.

Form: 370710

(5)

Storm Over⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 93| D

6/1

Has won half of his eight starts, including one on soft ground. Latest success was at Chelmsford (5f, AW). Up 4lb for that short head defeat of Poyle Vinnie (now 2lb worse off with him). Not fully exposed, but more needed.

Form: 351-601

(7)

Poyle Vinnie^b¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 89| BF| D

9/1

2lb better off with Storm Over for a short head defeat at Chelmsford (5f, AW) in June. Not quite at that level since and without a turf win in over three years. Plenty of respectable form, but looks to have each-way claims at best.

Form: 223493

(4)

Mayleaf Shine^h³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: T Eaves| T: I Jardine| OR: 88| CD

4/1

Won this last year (heavy) from 1lb lower. Unable to repeat that level of form this season, but 3L fourth in Listed Ayr event (5f, good) in June was one of her better efforts. Much more needed than at Hamilton last time, however.

Form: 63-7844

(1)

Intense Romance⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: F Norton| T: M Dods| OR: 86| D

5/2

Has won 6-18 races, mainly over this trip and one on good to soft. Has run well in defeat in a couple of weaker races of late, both from this mark. Best effort would give her claims, though probably more of an each-way prospect on recent form.

Form: 8-08022

Non-Runners

(8)

Gracious John¹⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: P D Evans J: D Tudhope

(6)

Sir Robert Cheval²⁸

Weight: 9-6| Age: 7

T: R M H Cowell J: G Mosse

(10)

Orvar²¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: P T Midgley J: Non Runner

(3)

Encore d'Or²⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: R M H Cowell J: Jim Crowley

(9)

Excessable¹²

Weight: 8-8| Age: 5

T: T D Easterby J: Rachel Richardson

Forecasts

Intense Romance (5/2), Orvar (3/1), Quench Dolly (10/3), Mayleaf Shine (4/1), Blue De Vega (5/1), Storm Over (6/1), Gracious John (8/1), Poyle Vinnie (9/1), Sir Robert Cheval (10/1), Encore d'Or (10/1), Excessable (16/1)

A few holes to pick in the claims of some of these and GRACIOUS JOHN is the suggestion, given his best form this season and his ability to act on slower ground. Blue De Vega looks a potential danger if he can get back to the form he was showing before being gelded, while stablemate Storm Over and Orvar are others with claims. Intense Romance is not ruled out of the money.