15:15 Haydock

Saturday 29 September 2018

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

Smarkets Handicap

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 59.21s

(3)

Final Venture¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: J Fanning| T: P T Midgley| OR: 103| CD

8/1

Front-runner; knocking at the door throughout 2018, generally running his very best races at York, including when beaten a neck by El Astronaute, Holmeswood third (5f+, good to firm) at the Ebor Meeting.

Form: 536255

(2)

Tarboosh⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Harry Bentley| T: P T Midgley| OR: 102| D

5/1

In blistering form since mid-July, and was completing a quick hat-trick in a 5f Nottingham Conditions Stakes (beat Soie D'leau) latest; 2lb higher off a 46-day absence; finished third (beaten a neck and a nose) in this race in 2017.

Form: 904111

(1)

Tropics^h²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: D K Ivory| OR: 100| D

33/1

Useful horse in his prime (July Cup placed), but has proved more prolific on the AW in recent times; more realistic than the 6f Listed contest (York) that he tackled latest, but isn't expected to play a significant role in the finish.

Form: 661035

(7)

Aeolus^b¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: L P Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 99| C

10/1

Listed and Group 3 winner (2015 Chipchase Stakes - Newcastle) in his earlier career, but hasn't been at his strongest since winning an early season Class 2 Newmarket (6f, good to soft) handicap.

Form: 5-10006

(14)

Just Glamorous³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: N Mackay| T: R Harris| OR: 98| CD

40/1

Enjoyed a career defining season in 2016 when successful on four occasions (including in a Group 3); hasn't beaten a single rival in his last three starts (5f), but in fairness had a similar profile prior to his shock 33/1 Ascot win (October 2017).

Form: 27-5007

(10)

Soie D'leau^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: T Hamilton| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 96| CD

33/1

Effective at Haydock (soft ground C&D winner), but no match for Tarboosh on his penultimate start (Nottingham) and disappointing since; close up fifth of 14 to Boundsy in this race in 2017.

Form: 2-10020

(13)

Copper Knight^t⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 94| D

25/1

Made all to land the Gosforth Park Cup at Newcastle (5f) in June; hasn't quite recaptured that same sparkle since (wide draw excuse latest), but is capable off this mark, finished (tenth) behind Final Venture at York in August.

Form: 196005

(6)

Blue De Vega^h1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: K Shoemark| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 93| D

10/1

Winner off this mark at Ascot (5f, good to firm) in July beating Evergate by ½L, but has tended to fade away on his more recent starts (comprehensively beaten by Tarboosh at Nottingham in August); hood applied seeking an extra edge.

Form: 613530

(17)

Holmeswood^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 90| BF| D

13/2

Notched a hat-trick of late summer 5f wins in 2017, and although higher in the weights remains in decent shape; 13/2f, keeping on eighth of 21 in the Portland, and just over 1L third to El Astronaute (Final Venture second) at York immediately prior.

Form: 467638

(9)

Dakota Gold⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR: 90| D

4/1

In contention until weakening (sixth) inside the final furlong in the Ayr Silver Cup (6f, heavy) last weekend, which was simply a continuation of his strong recent sprint handicap form (Portland fourth; Great St Wilfrid runner-up).

Form: 062346

(15)

Confessional^e/s⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 8-8| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87| CD

12/1

Finished 2¾L third to Snazzy Jazzy in the Ayr Silver Cup (6f, heavy) last weekend, so this veteran has enjoyed a stellar month of September (Chester winner); realistic place claims at the bare minimum.

Form: 349213

(16)

Poyle Vinnie^b¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: S H James| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 86| D

25/1

Showed some fair handicap form mid-summer (5f Ascot runner-up off 4lb higher in July), but recent signs that his enthusiasm for the battle is beginning to wane; overlooked.

Form: 349355

(11)

Diamond Dougal¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: David Egan| T: M R Channon| OR: 86| CD

12/1

Winner of a 5f nursery (heavy) at this two-day fixture in 2017, and also in good shape early season winning at Bath in April (5½f, good); not far off the pace (fifth) on return from a five month break latest, but this looks tough.

Form: 145-125

(5)

Tommy G⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-4| J: Nathan Evans| T: J S Goldie| OR: 83

20/1

Winner of the Consolation Race for the Stewards Cup at Goodwood (6f, good to firm) in August on a splendid afternoon for his handler Jim Goldie; 2lb higher here; finished eighth of 23 in the Bronze Cup at Ayr (6, heavy) eight days ago.

Form: 317108

(12)

Bossipop^b⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: Cam Hardie| T: T D Easterby| OR: 82| D

33/1

Made all when a game neck winner of a 5½f Class 2 handicap at Chester (good) earlier this month, but has disappointed twice since and his trainer Tim Easterby has far more alluring claims with Confessional and Copper Knight.

Form: 325109

(8)

Jabbarockie²²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: Robert Dodsworth⁽⁷⁾| T: E J Alston| OR: 81| CD

25/1

Knows how to win races (4-18) and made no mistake when justifying favouritism in a much less competitive Class 4 C&D handicap in July; still 4lb above that winning mark and can be expected to struggle in this grade.

Form: 231349

(4)

Militia³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 79| D

12/1

Lightly-raced Equiano colt; made all to see off a Godolphin-owned gelding when winning over 6f at Ayr (good) in July, but came up short in Class 2 company at Goodwood in August (15/2f; 12th of 19 to today's rival Tommy G).

Form: 3-12103

Forecasts

Dakota Gold (4/1), Tarboosh (5/1), Holmeswood (13/2), Final Venture (8/1), Blue De Vega (10/1), Aeolus (10/1), Confessional (12/1), Diamond Dougal (12/1), Militia (12/1), Tommy G (20/1), Jabbarockie (25/1), Poyle Vinnie (25/1), Copper Knight (25/1), Bossipop (33/1), Soie D'leau (33/1), Tropics (33/1), Just Glamorous (40/1)

A continuation of the September theme after a weekend of big-field sprints at Ayr. Speaking of which, a number of these horses contested either the Silver or Bronze Cups, including the grand veteran Confessional who holds realistic place claims. Others drawn high with a winning chance are Holmeswood (closely matched with Final Venture on York form), and his stablemate the Gosforth Park Cup winner Copper Knight. However, we'll chance a low draw with stablemates Final Venture and TARBOOSH drawn adjacent in stalls two and three. The four-timer seeking Harry Bentley-ridden charge finished a close up third in this race in 2017, and is capable of making all.