14:05 Haydock

Saturday 29 September 2018

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Smarkets Betting Exchange Handicap

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 1m 41.98s

(2)

Mitchum Swagger¹⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Harry Bentley| T: R M Beckett| OR: 105| CD

9/4

His sole win over this trip came over C&D (soft) at this two-day fixture in 2015, but he's proved himself in quality races such as the Royal Hunt Cup (third in 2016); beaten 3L by Addeybb in the Lincoln in March (soft); absent since.

Form: 74150-3

(9)

Escobar^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| CD

9/1

Back at the scene of his June C&D win (good to firm), he must demonstrate his prowess on a softer racing surface; 7lb above that winning mark, and down the field in a competitive 1m Leopardstown handicap a fortnight ago.

Form: 102870

(3)

Yuften³⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Liam Keniry| T: J Butler| OR: 97| D

50/1

Off the track for over 12 months since finishing down the field in a 7f Haydock Conditions Stakes (good to soft) on his final start for Roger Charlton; handicap mark eased for stable debut. Non-runner at Newmarket (Thursday).

Form: 1/30005-

(6)

M C Muldoon³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: K Shoemark| T: P W Chapple-Hyam| OR: 100| D

11/1

Unexposed 3yo who made all when sluicing up on debut at Nottingham in May (1m novice, soft); far more sternly tested since in Listed and Group 2 company; interesting to see how he fares now sent handicapping from a tough looking opening mark.

Form: 129

(7)

Borderforce⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 94| D

7/1

Ex-French racer; fairly reliable since joining Karl Burke, 22/1 and was seeing off today's rivals Gurkha Friend and Just Hiss when winning the Ripon Rowels Handicap (1m, good to soft) on his penultimate start; 2lb higher, more required.

Form: 100016

(10)

Gurkha Friend²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 93| D

10/1

Renews rivalry with Ripon Rowels conqueror Borderforce (Just Hiss third) on improved terms, and theoretically is more than capable of a reverse; that said, this likeable 6yo is ideally suited by that particular North Yorkshire venue.

Form: 7-71125

(1)

Al Erayg¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 91| D

10/1

$150,000 yearling, but knocked down for just €8,000 at Arqana Sales in July 2018; limited experience in UK handicaps, but dropped 2lb and could be suited by stepping up in trip (back to 1m); tough assignment.

Form: 1/243-54

(4)

Alemaratalyoum⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: J Fanning| T: I Jardine| OR: 88| BF| CD

7/2

Performed well since joining this trainer for 19,000gns in November 2017 (ex-Ed Dunlop); 7lb higher than when winning a Class 3 C&D handicap by a neck last month, so needs to find further improvement (possible) in this stronger race.

Form: 710192

(8)

Just Hiss^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87| BF| D

7/1

No win since July 2017 (1m York, good) but has returned from a short break in solid form with a trio of third-placed finishes during August; very closely matched with winner (Borderforce), and runner-up (Gurkha Brave) on recent 1m Ripon Rowels form.

Form: 57-0333

Non-Runners

(5)

Aquarium⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: C & M Johnston J: J Fanning

Forecasts

Mitchum Swagger (9/4), Alemaratalyoum (7/2), Just Hiss (7/1), Borderforce (7/1), Aquarium (7/1), Escobar (9/1), Gurkha Friend (10/1), Al Erayg (10/1), M C Muldoon (11/1), Yuften (50/1)

A competitive Saturday handicap which is effectively a repeat of August's Ripon Rowels (and more). Borderforce edged out Gurkha Friend (head) and Just Hiss (another half-length) when that trio filled the frame under similar conditions in North Yorkshire, and splitting the old foes here is a thankless task. However, fortunately enough, another horse holds more compelling claims. The top-weight MITCHUM SWAGGER is a Haydock proven performer with an abundance of talent. He finished a close third in the 2016 Royal Hunt Cup, and wasn't beaten too far (third) by the progressive Addeybb when last seen in the Lincoln in March, and his optimum conditions are presenting.