14:25 Haydock

Saturday 12 August 2023

All14:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:50

Betfred 'Play Fred's 5 Million' Handicap

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 1m 42.40s

(2)

Dawn Of Liberation²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 93| D

14/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who won twice in novice company at up to 1m in 2022. Mixed bag in handicaps this year and others arrive with more pressing claims.

Form: 47-0400

(6)

Hafeet Alain²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-13| J: Connor Planas⁽⁵⁾| T: E Walker| OR: 92| D

6/1

Relished the return to front-running tactics when scoring over 1m at Newmarket in June. Just as good when narrowly denied back there last month, on both occasions partnered by promising 5 lb claimer Connor Planas. Should go well again.

Form: 506412

(13)

Isle Of Jura¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Callum Shepherd| T: George Scott| OR: 97| D

13/2

Well-bred colt who is improving at a rate of knots, showing his opening mark to be all wrong at Newbury before following up in easy fashion at Newmarket (both 1m). Even a further 14 lb rise doesn't look enough to stop him with further progress highly likely.

Form: 5-7411

(11)

Fantastic Fox^b1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 89| CD

14/1

Dual winner in small-field contests in 2021 but proved rather expensive to follow since, disappointing in first-time cheekpieces (blinkered now) at Hamilton (1m) last month. Mark is easing but need to see more.

Form: 20-4555

(10)

Helm Rock^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: R Kingscote| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 88| CD

7/1

Registered 3 victories during second half of last year, the third coming over this C&D. Recorded a few good efforts at the start of the summer but needs to bounce back from lesser runs the last twice.

Form: 032446

(7)

System¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: H Crouch| T: R Hannon| OR: 86| D

50/1

Listed scorer at 2 yrs who capitalised on an easing mark when successful at Doncaster (1m) last August. Not seen this term until finishing out the back (hampered) at Goodwood last week so it's hard to know what sort of form she arrives in.

Form: 62510-0

(12)

Poet Master³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S H James| T: K R Burke| OR: 92| C

3/1

Winner of 7f novices at Musselburgh and over C&D this summer. Lacks experience for a race of this nature but he looked very useful when scoring by 5 lengths here and fascinating contender for a top stable which has enjoyed plenty of success with horses in these colours in recent weeks.

Form: 11

(3)

Diamondonthehill⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: M Dods| OR: 85| D

20/1

Successful twice over 1m at Redcar last summer and back to best when resuming winning ways at Yarmouth (1m, good to firm) in June. Only nudged up 2 lb so ought to remain competitive.

Form: 19-8631

(9)

The Turpinator⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Ryan Sexton⁽³⁾| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 83| D

40/1

Has yet to fire this year but he is starting to look well handicapped again (now 5 lb below his last winning mark).

Form: 063-978

(16)

Billyb⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: O J Orr| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 83| CD

33/1

Ended 2022 with an AW win over 1m but yet to get going this year. Back on a winning mark but has too much to prove.

Form: 71-7969

(5)

Bodorgan³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee| T: C Hills| OR: 85| BF

15/2

Returned with an encouraging fifth in the competitive Silver Bowl on his C&D reappearance in May. In light of that promise his 2 runs since have been underwhelming but it's still relatively early days with him.

Form: 031-576

(4)

Kathab³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jim Crowley| T: W J Haggas| OR: 85| D

11/2

Off the mark at the fourth time of asking in 1m Ripon maiden 33 days ago. Not obviously one of his leading stable's very progressive types but lightly raced and could easily still have more to offer in handicaps.

Form: 2351

(15)

Freedom Day¹²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Jason Hart| T: M Walford| OR: 84| D

33/1

Scopey gelding who showed fairly useful form when opening his account at the third attempt in a Redcar novice (1m) in April (race worked out well). Acquired by new yard for 40,000 gns subsequently and interesting what the market makes of him now handicapping.

Form: 64-1

Non-Runners

(1)

Harswell Duke⁷

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: R Fell & S Murray J: Jonny Peate

(14)

Sudden Ambush⁴²

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: Non Runner

(8)

Starshiba¹⁴

Weight: 8-12| Age: 6

T: D O'Meara J: Jason Watson

Forecasts

Poet Master (3/1), Kathab (11/2), Hafeet Alain (6/1), Isle Of Jura (13/2), Helm Rock (7/1), Bodorgan (15/2), Sudden Ambush (12/1), Dawn Of Liberation (14/1), Fantastic Fox (14/1), Diamondonthehill (20/1), Harswell Duke (20/1), Starshiba (28/1), Freedom Day (33/1), Billyb (33/1), The Turpinator (40/1), System (50/1)

ISLE OF JURA had so much in hand at Newmarket last time that even a 14 lb rise may not prevent him completing a hat-trick with further improvement very much on the cards. Hafeet Alain has struck up a good partnership with Connor Planas in recent months and is second choice ahead of the very promising Poet Master.