17:40 Haydock

Thursday 25 May 2023

All14:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0517:40

George Formby Birthday Handicap

Off time: 17:41 | Winning time: 1m 28.07s

(9)

Fahari⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Tom Marquand| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 72

9/2

Fair maiden who ran her best race when second of 8 in minor event (7/1) at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 47 days ago. Should remain competitive back in handicap company.

Form: 56333-2

(11)

Starlight Nation⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: J P Fahy| T: C G Cox| OR: 71

7/1

Promise in maiden/novice events over 7f this year and didn't see longer trip out when sixth on Kempton handicap bow (8f) last month. Respected.

Form: 4376

(4)

Vasilissa¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 70| D

9/2

Back on the up when taking 13-runner handicap at Kempton (7f) 15 days ago. Looks well treated, back on turf, and holds leading claims.

Form: 446171

(8)

The Toff^b²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: K Stott| T: C Hills| OR: 70| D

9/1

Career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Lingfield (7f, AW) last month but ran no sort of race at Brighton since and needs to bounce back.

Form: 5-54218

(5)

Sunfyre¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: B Ellison| OR: 69

15/2

Lightly-raced maiden who found a little improvement when third of 6 on handicap debut at Ayr (7.2f, good) 17 days ago. Entitled to build on that.

Form: 4-373

(3)

Seagrave Fox⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Hart| T: T D Easterby| OR: 69| D

16/1

Scored twice on AW this year but was disappointing at Wolverhampton latest and is yet to prove himself on turf.

Form: 4-31128

(10)

Al Motasim²¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Palmer| OR: 69

7/2

Showed ability in minor events over this trip last season and appeals as the type to progress in handicaps this term. Gelded since last seen.

Form: 360-

(7)

Design^v1²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 68

18/1

Gelded and took a small step forward when fourth at Newcastle (7.1f) in February but finished well held on handicap debut here since and has something to prove now. Visor added for first time.

Form: 93-40

(1)

Bird Of Play³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Elle-May Croot⁽⁷⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 68

11/1

Made a promising start when runner-up at the Curragh last year but hasn't gone on as hoped since and was well beaten on Newmarket handicap bow last month.

Form: 28067-0

(6)

Tiger Trap¹⁷⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: T P Tate| OR: 64

25/1

No real impact in a trio of minor events over this trip at the end of last year but may do better now sent handicapping.

Form: 450-

(2)

Balmaha²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J S Goldie| OR: 58

80/1

Shaped as if amiss on final start for Richard Hannon in January and offered little encouragement on debut for new yard at Musselburgh 20 days ago.

Form: 058-05

Forecasts

Al Motasim (7/2), Fahari (9/2), Vasilissa (9/2), Starlight Nation (7/1), Sunfyre (15/2), The Toff (9/1), Bird Of Play (11/1), Seagrave Fox (16/1), Design (18/1), Tiger Trap (25/1), Balmaha (80/1)

VASILISSA won with plenty in hand at Kempton earlier this month and makes fair appeal in her follow-up bid. Fahari and Starlight Nation rate the principal dangers.