14:45 Haydock

Saturday 27 April 2024

All13:3814:1014:4515:2015:5316:2817:00

trustatrader.com Handicap

Off time: 14:47 | Winning time: 1m 34.96s

(2)

Sparks Fly¹⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Laura Pearson| T: D Loughnane| OR: 107| BF| C

13/2

Much improved switched to turf, completing a 6-timer in 1m Ayr handicap last July. Signed off with a below-par sixth in listed race at Saint-Cloud (8f) in November but the sort to get back on track.

Form: 119116-

(10)

Tacarib Bay⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 103| CD

9/2

C&D winner in November. Raced too freely after 9 weeks off when ninth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (8.6f) 49 days ago so no surprise to see him return to form.

Form: 0516-59

(6)

Gweedore¹⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: K Scott| OR: 100| D

9/1

Very useful front-runner who ended 2023 with a good fourth of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) in November. Goes well fresh so he's worth considering.

Form: 973734-

(8)

Rhoscolyn^t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Off 6 months/had wind op before coming in last of 5 in conditions event at Thirsk (7f, heavy) 7 days ago. Can take a step forward.

Form: 17150-5

(5)

Boardman²¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 96| CD

25/1

Ended 2023 out of sorts but he captured this prize in 2022 and has fallen to a workable mark so can't be ruled out.

Form: 157008-

(4)

Rainbow Fire²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: N Callan| T: M Botti| OR: 95| CD

5/1

Took this 12 months ago and he posted a good fourth of 10 in handicap at Kempton (8f) 26 days ago, caught further back than ideal. Player eased 1 lb for his in-form yard.

Form: 1087-54

(7)

Zip³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: Tyler Heard⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87| CD

10/1

C&D winner who arrives in decent nick, fourth of 14 in handicap at Doncaster (6f, soft) 34 days ago. Can give another good account.

Form: 53-5564

(1)

Earls^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: F Norton| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 87| D

11/4

Irish raider who comes here on the back of a good second of 16 in handicap at the Curragh (8f, heavy) 7 days ago, faring best of those held up. Firmly in the picture.

Form: 3487-52

(9)

Roach Power^t³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-2| J: J P Sullivan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 83| C| D

9/1

Ended 2023 on the up with victories at Thirsk and over 6f here. Off 6 months/tongue tied when a fading tenth in 6f Doncaster handicap on his return and no surprise to see him get back on track.

Form: 03011-0

Non-Runners

(3)

Look Back Smiling⁷

Weight: 8-6| Age: 4

T: G Tutty J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

Forecasts

Earls (11/4), Tacarib Bay (9/2), Rainbow Fire (5/1), Sparks Fly (13/2), Roach Power (9/1), Gweedore (9/1), Zip (10/1), Look Back Smiling (10/1), Rhoscolyn (12/1), Boardman (25/1)

Marco Botti has his string in good nick so his handily-weighted RAINBOW FIRE is fancied to repeat his success in this event 12 months ago. Irish challenger Earls shaped well when runner-up in a big field at the Curragh last time out and heads the list of dangers, although the returning Gweedore, 2022 winner Boardman and C&D scorer Zip also enter calculations.