17:15 Haydock

Saturday 6 August 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

Betfred 'Hat Trick Heaven' Handicap

Off time: 17:15 | Winning time: 1m 32.54s

(3)

Flatley⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: David Probert| T: A Wintle| OR: 75

15/2

In good nick on the all-weather earlier this year but failed to meet expectations returned to turf/handicap company at Chepstow 9 weeks ago. Sneaks into this 0-75 today but may have to wait a bit longer for his breakthrough success.

Form: 24-2425

(1)

Verreaux Eagle²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: B A Curtis| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 74| D

4/1

Dual winner at up to 7f on turf/AW as a 3-y-o who twice went close in 7f handicaps during the spring. Stamina possibly stretched over 7.6f trip at Chester last time (found less than looked likely) and she may well have a major say in this.

Form: 923344

(6)

Dark Swansong^b1⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 76| D

10/3

Showed further improvement fitted with first-time cheekpieces when runner-up at Chepstow on penultimate start and he was unlucky not to finish a shade closer on polytrack debut at Lingfield last week, hampered over 2f out. Blinkers now tried and he's fancied to go close.

Form: 31-6926

(4)

Star Zinc^h⁸⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: C Fellowes| OR: 74

5/2

Consistent rather than progressive but he did shape encouragingly when fourth on handicap debut (4/1) at Doncaster (7f) back in May, nearest finish after slowly away. Gelded since and the hood goes back on today.

Form: 24-54

(5)

Liangel Hope^p¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Mollie Phillips⁽⁵⁾| T: C Mason| OR: 71| D

10/1

Opened his account at Redcar in April and largely in good form since, capitalising on the drop in grade when cosily scoring at Catterick 17 days ago. Has left David O'Meara since and no surprise to see him involved back in handicap company.

Form: 423451

(7)

Above It All^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 68| CD

9/2

Has taken his form up a level since being fitted with blinkers, opening his account on the turf over C&D in May and posting solid efforts in defeat since. Latest effort worth marking up a shade (was messed about at the start) and he should remain competitive.

Form: 121542

Non-Runners

(2)

Newton Jack¹⁷

Weight: 10-1| Age: 5

T: W S Kittow J: Mr Taylor Fisher

Forecasts

Star Zinc (5/2), Dark Swansong (10/3), Verreaux Eagle (4/1), Above It All (9/2), Flatley (15/2), Liangel Hope (10/1), Newton Jack (12/1)

Cases can be made for most but the most compelling is for DARK SWANSONG. Clive Cox's charge looked unlucky not to finish closer at Lingfield last week, and with Adam Kirby back on board and first-time blinkers replacing the cheekpieces, he's fancied to bring up career victory number 2. Verreaux Eagle's stamina was possibly stretched at Chester 3 weeks ago so he heads up the opposition, with Above It All also expected to be in the mix.