18:30 Haydock

Saturday 16 July 2022

All18:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Betfred Steve Yarborough Memorial Handicap

Off time: 18:32 | Winning time: 2m 10.94s

(3)

Headingley^p,h⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: S A Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 72

12/1

Has largely struggled since his second at Wolverhampton in February. Easy to put a line though latest Chester run (pulled up due to rider injury) but others are still preferred.

Form: 69005P

(6)

Billy Roberts¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: S Whitaker| OR: 68| D

5/2

Fourth win since last autumn when seeing off 7 rivals at Ripon in May. Arrives on the back of creditable runner-up efforts at Beverley and Pontefract. No reason why he won't give his running again.

Form: 715022

(4)

Dogged^p,t⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: K Stott| T: R Menzies| OR: 67| BF

2/1

Losing run stretches back to 2019 but he has held his form reasonably well since joining this yard, finishing 4 lengths second over C&D on latest start 7 weeks ago.

Form: 582472

(5)

Busby^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: D Swift| T: P A Kirby| OR: 66

16/1

Three AW wins over the winter. Also close went close on turf at Ayr in April but his 3 efforts since then have been disappointing. Bounce back needed.

Form: 132770

(2)

Persuasive Powers⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Georgia Dobie⁽³⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 64| BF

5/1

Creditable efforts from the front over 1¼m at Bath on first 2 starts this year. Not so good over 1m there latest but capable off this mark if back to her best.

Form: 365-445

(1)

Night Bear^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: N Callan| T: A W Carroll| OR: 63| D

4/1

Temperamental sort. Twelve runs since last win in 2020. Below-form fourth of 5 in handicap at Leicester (1½m, good to soft, 9/1) 14 days ago. Blinkers back on. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 3896-44

Non-Runners

(7)

Virgo¹⁸⁵

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: C Fellowes J: P Mulrennan

Forecasts

Dogged (2/1), Billy Roberts (5/2), Virgo (11/4), Night Bear (4/1), Persuasive Powers (5/1), Headingley (12/1), Busby (16/1)

BILLY ROBERTS arrives in form and is probably the most solid option. Persuasive Powers is capable off this mark if back to the level of her first 2 outings this year and heads the dangers along with Dogged who has been quite consistent since joining Rebecca Menzies.