19:08 Haydock

Friday 1 July 2022

All17:3318:0818:3819:0819:3820:0820:40

Happy Birthday Molly Rose Handicap

Off time: 19:09 | Winning time: 1m 13.48s

(7)

Bond Power^p1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 80

13/2

Stepped up on reappearance run when third of 6 in handicap at Ripon (6f, good to firm, 18/1) 16 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 3410-93

(6)

Straits Of Moyle¹⁵⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 80| D

18/1

Dual winner in 2021 who wasn't seen to best effect when second of 4 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f) in January, needing stronger gallop. Well below form at Kempton later that month and off since.

Form: 1424-27

(8)

Tothenines¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 78| D

11/4

Came out on top at the fifth attempt in 8-runner maiden at Ripon (6f, good to firm) 16 days ago, despite doing plenty wrong. Should remain competitive back in handicap company, providing he breaks on terms.

Form: 2-2561

(10)

Mattice^p¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Brandon Wilkie⁽⁷⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| D

6/1

Opened account in a Redcar maiden in June but found life tougher returned to handicap company at Ripon 16 days ago.

Form: 430014

(5)

True Jem²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 77| D

9/2

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap at Goodwood (6f, good to soft, 10/3) 21 days ago, well in control by the finish. That form has been franked by the second and third winning since, so a 5 lb rise seems unlikely to prevent another bold bid.

Form: 636331

(2)

The Dunkirk Lads¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| D

11/4

Much improved when winning 6-runner handicap at Nottingham (6.1f, good) 18 days ago, forging clear. Hit with 6 lb rise but may still have more to offer at this trip.

Form: 63-8201

(9)

El Hibri²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: A W Carroll| OR: 76

28/1

Offered little after 8 months off on first run since leaving Brian Meehan at Goodwood (7f, good) 26 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 32227-8

(3)

Russellinthebushes³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: J F Egan| T: P D Evans| OR: 74

9/1

Took a step back in the right direction with reappearance under belt when third of 9 in handicap at Chester (6.1f, good to firm) 34 days ago. In the picture with a repeat.

Form: 2147-83

Non-Runners

(1)

Lil Guff¹

Weight: 9-10| Age: 3

T: D & C Kubler J: Cieren Fallon

(4)

Melayu Kingdom³⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 3

T: K A Ryan J: T Eaves

Forecasts

Tothenines (11/4), The Dunkirk Lads (11/4), True Jem (9/2), Mattice (6/1), Lil Guff (6/1), Bond Power (13/2), Russellinthebushes (9/1), Melayu Kingdom (16/1), Straits Of Moyle (18/1), El Hibri (28/1)

TRUE JEM proved better than ever when recording a second career win at Goodwood 3 weeks ago and, with that form proving strong, a 5 lb rise may not be enough to prevent the follow up. Fellow last-time-out scorer The Dunkirk Lads is still relatively unexposed at this trip, so commands respect, as does Lil Guff, who wasn't beaten far at Royal Ascot a couple of weeks ago.