15:45 Haydock

Saturday 23 April 2022

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:20

Lathom Handicap

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 1m 39.82s

(7)

Fantastic Fox²¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 99| CD

4/1

Successful twice at around 1m last season, including over C&D. Failed to fire in Cambridgeshire at Newmarket final start but claims if on a going day having been gelded.

Form: 103140-

(4)

Cruyff Turn²¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 98| D

11/1

Won 4 times last season, notably a valuable prize at York's Ebor meeting (1m, good to firm). Respectable fourth over C&D on final start. Much depends on whether he's ready to roll after 7 months off.

Form: 117144-

(6)

Hartswood¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 93| D

14/1

Very useful on his day. Looked rusty when only fifth of 6 on his Nottingham return 17 days ago but he ran well second time up last season and is now 1 lb lower than when scoring at Newcastle last summer. Not discounted.

Form: 01600-5

(3)

Darkness^v¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 92| D

10/1

Better effort for new yard since coming over from France when fourth of 6 at Nottingham 17 days ago. First-time visor replaces the cheekpieces worn on that occasion.

Form: 5/356-04

(2)

Baldomero⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: M Appleby| OR: 91

9/2

Quickly on the up for new connections, winning over further at Kempton in March. Good close second at Wolverhampton (8.6f) next time and shaped as if still in form (keeping on when short of form final 1f) when fifth at Lingfield last week. Had good form on turf in Ireland. Player.

Form: 62-2125

(9)

Farasi Lane^p²⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: T Ward| OR: 91| D

18/1

Improved to win pair of Sandown handicaps at up to 1m this summer. 2021 ended with a couple of lesser runs but he's capable of bouncing back (ran well on last year's reappearance).

Form: 218170-

(1)

Excel Power¹⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 88| D

20/1

Landed a fourth win of a productive first season when digging deep under pressure to see off 10 rivals at Chelmsford in November. That was his first attempt at 1m so he is unexposed at this trip.

Form: 153351-

(8)

Kingmania²⁸⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: J Mitchell| T: C F Wall| OR: 86

2/1

Fast improving filly who completed the hat-trick at Doncaster (7f) last June. Winning run ended at Newmarket the following month but she shaped well in running on for fourth in what was a warm race. Not seen since but she remains open to improvement with the step up to 1m likely to suit.

Form: 641/114-

(10)

Delgrey Boy¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-6| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| D

10/1

Won 3 times last season, including a series final at Redcar (1m) in October. Not seen to best effect when well held on reappearance there 19 days ago but he will need a career-best to overcome this mark.

Form: 51321-0

Non-Runners

(5)

Brentford Hope¹⁶⁷

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: R Hughes J: Benoit D L Sayette

Forecasts

Kingmania (2/1), Fantastic Fox (4/1), Baldomero (9/2), Brentford Hope (11/2), Delgrey Boy (10/1), Darkness (10/1), Cruyff Turn (11/1), Hartswood (14/1), Farasi Lane (18/1), Excel Power (20/1)

BALDOMERO didn't enjoy the rub of the green at Lingfield on Good Friday and is worth another chance to show he's still on a good mark. Kingmania's absence since last July is a slight worry but her stable is among the winners and she leaves the impression she should have more to come at 1m. Last summer's C&D scorer Fantastic Fox completes the shortlist.