19:30 Haydock

Thursday 13 June 2019

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Janine Birch's Halfway To A Century Handicap

4YO plus | Class 3 | 7f 212y | 9 Runners | Turf

(7)

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 95| D

Former French racer who was a winner on his first two starts for David O'Meara (7f-1m, good to firm); 9lb above his last winning mark; has held his own in defeat in strong Class 2 handicaps (York and Epsom) since.

Form: 18-1165

(2)

Masham Star⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94| BF| D

Seven-time winner with plenty of miles on the clock (is as tough as an old boot); has struggled to find a suitable winning opportunity since a heavy ground Group 3 win at Capannelle (Italy) in November 2018.

Form: 263243

(10)

Sha La La La Lee¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 93| D

Runner up on both previous visits to this track (1m); has climbed up the handicap since with a couple of wins, including when making all to beat Gabrial The Saint at Chester (7½f, soft) in May; finished behind Masham Star latest.

Form: 212815

(9)

Rogue⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 90| D

A four-time turf winner for Richard Hannon (6f-1m); sold for 14,000gns in February 2019; placed on debut for Alex Dunn at Chelmsford (7f) in April, albeit far less productive there last week; is back down to his last winning mark (88).

Form: 2108-36

(4)

Tricorn¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 89| D

Useful handicapper (turf and AW) who left John Gosden for 35,000gns in February 2019; has three duck-eggs on his CV since joining the Stillington handler Ruth Carr, easing 11lb in the weights over that period; should come good at some point.

Form: 200-000

(1)

Gulf Of Poets⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Josh Quinn⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 89| CD

Hasn't raced at Haydock Park since forging clear to win by 3½L in a Class 2 handicap last April (Masham Star third); 2lb lower tonight and this is a far easier option than Newbury's Spring Cup; serious player in these conditions.

Form: 9645-50

(6)

Donncha⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: S Spencer| OR: 86| D

Hasn't won since June 2015 (Redcar); knocked at the door in competitive Doncaster handicaps for former trainer Robert Eddery (2016 Doncaster Spring Mile, 2017 Lincoln); sits on a much reduced mark on his return from a 96 day absence.

Form: 04369-5

(8)

Calder Prince¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Jane Elliott⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 82| CD

Stablemate of Sha La La La Lee; is a Haydock regular and a dual course winner; eased steadily in the weights during 2018, but back to something like his best when a close third to Club Wexford at Wetherby (1m, gd/fm) a fortnight ago.

Form: 0549-03

(3)

Club Wexford¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: B A Curtis| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 81| CD

C&D winner on good to firm last June; similar conditions when getting the better of today's rival Calder Prince at Wetherby (1m) a fortnight ago; a subsequent 2lb rise is fair; does handle soft so shouldn't be totally dismissed.

Form: 939-451

Non-Runners

(5)

Mr Top Hat⁷

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: P D Evans J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Masham Star (7/2), Sha La La La Lee (4/1), Hortzadar (5/1), Mr Top Hat (6/1), Club Wexford (6/1), Calder Prince (7/1), Gulf Of Poets (7/1), Donncha (10/1), Rogue (12/1), Tricorn (25/1)

An ultra-competitive handicap which features a number of horses who are almost on first name terms, including the recent Wetherby combatants Club Wexford and Calder Prince (stablemate of the impossibly named Sha La La La Lee). Masham Star is better travelled than a Bradshaw's handbook, and tough as an old boot. He hasn't won since taking a Group 3 contest at Capannelle (Italy) last November, but should appreciate these underfoot conditions. However, the relatively strong fancy is the Mick Easterby-trained GULF OF POETS who is 2lb lower than when winning on his last visit to Haydock Park in April 2018. He rates as a serious player on tonight's heavy ground.