14:05 Haydock

Saturday 3 July 2021

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2516:55

bet365 Handicap

Off time: 14:08 | Winning time: 3m 6.56s

(2)

Sir Rumi¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hannon| OR: 94| C

16/1

Useful colt who wasn't disgraced at Royal Ascot 2 weeks ago but stamina to prove here and others look better treated.

Form: 41216

(8)

Kondo Isami¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 90

10/1

Displayed a good attitude to see off a subsequent winner on York return and another good run when narrowly denied at Doncaster. Ran no sort of race at Royal Ascot since but type to bounce back.

Form: 231-120

(4)

Soapy Stevens¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 88| CD

20/1

Winner of handicaps at Chester (1½m) and over this C&D in recent months. However, found out in stronger company at Royal Ascot and others look better handicapped.

Form: 8-24110

(6)

Contact¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Connor Beasley| T: T D Barron| OR: 87

12/1

Suited by step up in trip when easy winner at Pontefract (12f) 2 weeks ago. 8 lb higher now but may yet have more to offer with even further to travel (half-brother to 2½m winner).

Form: 01-1341

(7)

Tashkhan¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Harry Russell⁽⁵⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 86| C

16/5

Ex-Irish gelding who continued rapid rate of progression when doubling career tally here (1¼m) in May. Far from disgraced at Royal Ascot since and this trip promises to suit. One to take seriously.

Form: 87-1219

(11)

Harlem Soul¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: S De Sousa| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 84

10/1

Strong, scopey type who made a winning handicap bow in 4-runner event at Ripon 16 days ago. This much more competitive but has a stout pedigree so remains with potential going up in trip again.

Form: 24-31

(12)

Oceanline²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: M Harley| T: A King| OR: 83| BF| D

33/1

Opened his account down in grade in Nottingham handicap. However, failed to land the odds when 2¾ lengths second of 3 to Soapy Stevens in handicap at this C&D next time. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 3-53412

(1)

Reverend Hubert²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽³⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 80

9/1

Off the mark at the fourth attempt in 14-runner handicap at Salisbury and unluckly not to finish closer upped in trip when fifth at Doncaster since. Probably has more to offer still.

Form: 84-315

(3)

Alpine Stroll¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Ray Dawson⁽³⁾| T: E De Giles| OR: 80

14/1

Came close to breaking his duck in Salisbury handicap under this rider 10 days ago, making most and rallying. Worth another try at this trip on that evidence.

Form: 473262

(5)

Auriferous²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Hayley Turner| T: A M Balding| OR: 78

20/1

Consistent rather than progressive sort who came close to getting off the mark in Salisbury maiden latest. Vulnerable to improvers now handicapping.

Form: 96-2322

(9)

Summer's Knight¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 73

16/1

Progressive handicapper who opened his account upped in trip at Doncaster (14.5f, firm, 8/11). Followed up with a fair bit in hand under a penalty at Bath 10 days ago and needs considering up 4 lb.

Form: 855-411

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 25p in the pound

Non-Runners

(10)

Dhushan²⁸

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: W J Haggas J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Dhushan (11/4), Tashkhan (16/5), Reverend Hubert (9/1), Harlem Soul (10/1), Kondo Isami (10/1), Contact (12/1), Alpine Stroll (14/1), Summer's Knight (16/1), Sir Rumi (16/1), Auriferous (20/1), Soapy Stevens (20/1), Oceanline (33/1)

It could be worth chancing TASHKHAN, who made rapid progress for this yard before finding the emphasis on speed against him at Royal Ascot, and this step up in trip promises to suit. Mark Johnston has won 2 of the last 3 renewals and has a strong hand again, notably with Kondo Isami and Harlem Soul, while Dhushan and Summer's Knight look highly-progressive types.