15:30 Haydock

Saturday 29 May 2021

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 1m 30.62s

(2)

Safe Voyage¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 115| CD

11/2

Smart performer who has been a credit to connections. Better than ever when winning 3 times last season, including a brace of Group 2s. Heavy defeat in the Lockinge on return but this is easier.

Form: 41130-0

(1)

Brad The Brief⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 109| C

16/1

Smart form when gaining Group-level breakthrough at Chantilly in October (6f). Well held both starts this year (reappearance in Saudi Arabia) and has yet to prove himself over 7f.

Form: 9141-90

(6)

Glorious Journey⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 111| D

11/2

Dual Group-2 winner over 7f and gave another good account of himself to hit the frame for the second time in Turf Sprint at King Abdulaziz in February. Versatile performer and just about one to beat.

Form: 9513-34

(7)

Kinross¹⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: R M Beckett| OR: 106| D

5/1

Signed off 3-y-o campaign with a listed AW win over 1m in November. Excuses for first Meydan run in January but effort there the following month was disappointing. Drops back in trip.

Form: 8491-66

(8)

Njord^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Foley| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 106| D

11/1

Real success story in 2020 for Jessica Harrington, developing into a smart handicapper. Probably working way back to peak fitness this year and he's not out of it on the figures upped in class.

Form: 2541-93

(3)

River Nymph²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 105| D

11/2

Very much on the up last summer, winning a pair of 7f handicaps. Shaped better than position suggests in the Lincoln on reappearance and duly built on that when landing the Victoria Cup. Up in class.

Form: 8110-01

(5)

Toro Strike⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 110| D

5/1

Came up short in pattern company to close out 3-y-o campaign but better than ever when an easy winner of a minor event at Thirsk in April, well on top at the finish.

Form: 3/5128-1

(4)

With Thanks²⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 110| D

5/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who found another jolt of improvement when landing Group 3 Athasi Stakes at Naas in November. Ground very much in her favour on reappearance and limit may not yet have been reached.

Form: 1/2121-

(9)

Queen Jo Jo¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: K A Ryan| OR: 104

50/1

Stayed on strongly to win Group 3 Summer Stakes over 6f at York in July. Well held back over that C&D on reappearance and this a tough race to bounce back in.

Form: 27130-0

Forecasts

Kinross (5/1), Toro Strike (5/1), With Thanks (5/1), Glorious Journey (11/2), River Nymph (11/2), Safe Voyage (11/2), Njord (11/1), Brad The Brief (16/1), Queen Jo Jo (50/1)

Little to separate the majority of these on the figures with the vote going to WITH THANKS. She stays in training as a lightly-raced but progressive 4-y-o filly and with conditions looking ideal, she can pick up where she left off in the autumn. Glorious Journey and 2019-winner Safe Voyage, despite his penalty, are feared most.