14:05 Haydock

Saturday 6 July 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

bet365 Handicap

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 3m 5.77s

(1)

Summer Moon¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95

6/1

Yet to win beyond 1m4f and now rated 12lb higher than when making all to beat Laafy by 4L at York (1m4f, good to firm) in May; finished just behind stablemate Themaxwecan (penultimate); one of four runners for Mark Johnston.

Form: 36-1130

(3)

Themaxwecan¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94

4/1

Both wins came over 1m2f; finished just in front of stablemate Summer Moon when beaten a head by Durston at Doncaster (1m6f, good to firm) in June - that was a solid effort; down the field in the Group 2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot since.

Form: 1-12928

(5)

Sir Ron Priestley¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 94| C

15/8

Easily landed the odds on handicap debut over 1m4f (good to firm) here on his penultimate start, building upon an earlier 6L Ripon win (novice); showed up prominently until weakening from the two furlong pole at Royal Ascot latest; stamina to prove.

Form: 24-110

(2)

Mind The Crack²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 89| C

7/2

Fast improving Jukebox Jury gelding who is one of four declared runners for Mark Johnston; has recently recorded emphatic back-to-back wins in four-runner affairs at Lingfield and here at Haydock (1m4f, heavy); 6lb higher on second handicap start.

Form: 243-11

(4)

Arctic Fox²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 88

10/1

Has well and truly blossomed since winning a Class 4 handicap by 2L at Newmarket (1m2f, good to firm) in May adding successive wins at York (1m2f-1m4f); 4lb higher than when beating Mutamaded by ½L in the Queen Mother's Cup latest; trip?

Form: 36-6111

(6)

Prefontaine^b1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 87

10/1

Stayed on well to justify favouritism on nursery debut at Nottingham (1m2f, good) last October; generally progressive since without winning; just held (beaten a neck) by the Mark Johnston-trained Lord Lamington at Sandown (1m6f) in May; blinkers on.

Form: 3216-23

(7)

Tidal Point^p1²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: R Ffrench| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 74

25/1

Still seeking his first career win (0-5) and the chances are that he'll find this a shade too competitive; has previous with Prefontaine and also a couple of placed efforts at this track (1m4f-1m6f); cheekpieces added.

Form: 65332

Forecasts

Sir Ron Priestley (15/8), Mind The Crack (7/2), Themaxwecan (4/1), Summer Moon (6/1), Prefontaine (10/1), Arctic Fox (10/1), Tidal Point (25/1)

Mark Johnston is mob-handed in this three-year-old handicap with four runners, all of whom have been typically progressive throughout the early months of the season and he has a solid line into the capabilities of the other three runners (often through Lord Lamington). Therefore, the decision to make is which of the quartet rates as the likeliest winner? Mind The Crack is arguably in the best form although this race is another step up the ladder, while Sir Ron Priestley isn't necessarily copper-bottomed stamina wise. With little between Summer Moon and THEMAXWECAN on the book, a chance is taken on the latter now dropping back from a Group 2 contest.