16:25 Haydock

Saturday 29 September 2018

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

Best Racing Odds On Smarkets Handicap

Off time: 16:26 | Winning time: 3m 5.94s

(8)

Saigon City¹⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: D Carroll| OR: 102| D

18/1

Failed to get a run in the Ebor (first reserve), so has been off the track since late April when a well beaten ninth of 11 in the 1m6f Further Flight Listed Stakes (Nottingham); wouldn't want conditions drying up.

Form: 2196-19

(3)

Brandon Castle^h,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Rob Hornby| T: A Watson| OR: 97| D

25/1

Made all, and held on well to take the 1m6f (heavy) Queen's Cup at Musselburgh in March by a neck from Time To Study; weakened out of contention (ninth) on reappearance in the German St. Leger (Dortmund) 13 days ago.

Form: 46-1409

(1)

Baydar^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Harry Bentley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 89

10/3

Taken time to recapture his 2016 form for previous trainer Hugo Palmer (four-time 1m2f winner), but was a head runner-up in the first-time visor on his maiden attempt over 1m6f at Chester (soft) a fortnight ago; key player off just 1lb higher.

Form: 00-0592

(9)

Suegioo¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87

25/1

Chester Cup winner of yesteryear (2014), and also a Northumberland Plate runner-up in his prime; handicapped to have a say, but strongest at 2m+ and has four places (over 2L) to make up on Baydar from Chester a fortnight ago.

Form: 941846

(7)

Garbanzo²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Liam Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 84| CD

4/1

50% turf strike-rate (3-6) courtesy of a hat-trick of recent wins (1m4f-1m6f, good to firm/soft); 4lb higher than when leading close home over C&D (Class 4) 22 days ago; respected.

Form: 3/90111

(4)

Surya⁷¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: N Mackay| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 92| CD

6/5

Showed some promise in maidens (0-3), but has progressed, and is unbeaten in his last two starts; 8lb higher than when making a winning C&D handicap debut in July (form handsomely franked); seemingly ear-marked for this race off a two month break.

Form: 05211

(2)

Stormin Tom¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Rachel Richardson| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| D

20/1

Has enjoyed a good run of form from mid-season onward, with a 1m6f win at Ripon (good) and a 2m win at Beverley (good to firm) the highlights; handicapper has his measure based upon his recent Chester run (behind Baydar).

Form: 122108

(6)

Dominating^b⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 82| D

10/1

Five-time winner in 2017, but has been a shade below-par this season (best effort when runner-up at Carlisle); no match for the ready 7L winner Arrowtown at Ayr (2m1f, heavy) last Friday, and whilst this shorter trip will help, others are preferred.

Form: 297752

Non-Runners

(5)

Great Hall³⁴

Weight: 9-12| Age: 8

T: M Quinn J: A Kirby

Forecasts

Surya (6/5), Baydar (10/3), Garbanzo (4/1), Dominating (10/1), Great Hall (16/1), Saigon City (18/1), Stormin Tom (20/1), Suegioo (25/1), Brandon Castle (25/1)

A super little race, which has presumably been the intended target for the progressive Surya since his C&D handicap debut win in July. Raised 8lb, there's a theory which suggests that's lenient with the form handsomely franked by the likes of Winds Of Fire (second), Nibras Galaxy (third) and Ashington (fourth). However, he'll be short in the betting and there are others with live chances, namely the four-timer seeking Garbanzo and the very interesting BAYDAR. The selection is unexposed at this trip, and showed improvement in the visor at Chester latest (finished in front of both Suegioo and Stormin Tom), and he remains well treated on his 3yo 1m2f form.