16:45 Haydock

Saturday 8 June 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:2017:52

Betfred 'Join Our Sports Club' Reverence Handicap

Off time: 16:48 | Winning time: 1m 12.5s

(5)

Aramis Grey⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Rae Guest| OR: 95| D

22/1

Admirable mare who does most of her racing on the AW but she's effective on turf and was a good third in a C&D listed race on sole previous visit here last May. Easy to forgive her for a rare below par effort when last seen in March but others could be better treated in any case.

Form: 3232-28

(15)

Billyjoh²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: M Appleby| OR: 93| BF| D

11/2

Back-to-back winner on the AW in February and has remained in good heart since, going down narrowly in 6f handicaps at Southwell and Ascot (good) the last twice. Yet to win off a mark this high but on recent evidence it's probably not beyond him.

Form: 124722

(11)

Intrinsic Bond¹⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: S De Sousa| T: M Wigham| OR: 92| D

20/1

Was in the groove after switching to this yard last summer, bagging a nice pot at Ascot in July before finishing second in the Shergar Cup Dash there the following month. Better still when a fine third in the Portland at Doncaster's St Leger meeting but ended 2023 on a downer and may need the run.

Form: 300554-

(6)

Mustajaab²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 92| D

17/2

Made it 2-2 on the AW when scoring with plenty to spare on return/first run since being gelded at Southwell (7f) in April. It was a strronger race than this in which he came up short at Ascot next time but a patchy profile is starting to emerge and others make more appeal.

Form: 0745-10

(16)

Al Barez⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: J Mitchell| T: Tom Clover| OR: 92| D

13/2

Flourishing now able to stand his racing, scoring at Kempton in April before following up to take his win record to an impressive 5 wins from 10 starts at Southwell later that month, proving a neck too strong for the re-opposing Billyjoh. 4 lb rise fair and another bold show likely back on turf.

Form: 46-3611

(3)

Fresh^t⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D Tudhope| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 92| D

13/2

Landed a couple of big pots over 7f at Ascot in 2022 and while he wasn't at the peak of his powers last year he still performed with credit in a number of valuable handicaps. Wasn't seen to best effect in Newbury race won by Wiltshire last time and he's now lurking on a very dangerous mark.

Form: 5600-50

(14)

Batal Dubai^p1²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Harry Charlton| OR: 91| CD

8/1

Added to his tally at Chelmsford in October and largely creditable efforts on the AW since the turn of the year, most recently finishing fourth of 14 at Newcastle (first run since being gelded). Sole previous visit here resulted in a C&D success in 2022 and he merits respect. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 1-32304

(10)

Lir Speciale^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 91| D

16/1

Four-time winner for Roger Varian and shaped well equipped with a first-time tongue strap (retained) when fourth in a 7-runner Newmarket handicap (5f, good to firm) on return/debut for new yard. This step back up in trip looks a good move and he's one to be interested in.

Form: 10094-4

(12)

Gisburn²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: S M Levey| T: R Hannon| OR: 88| D

16/1

Snapped a lengthy losing run at Goodwood last October and after a couple of below-par performances this year, he was a good third back at the same course (6f, heavy) in May. However, commensurate with his rather up-and-down profile he failed to back that up at Newbury next time.

Form: 23-7030

(8)

Abduction¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: J S Goldie| OR: 88| D

18/1

Proved better than ever to narrowly resume winning ways at Wolverhampton on final start last year. Out with the washing first 2 starts of present campaign but shaped as though coming to hand when third here (7.2f, good to soft) a fortnight ago and the booking of Jim Crowley is a bonus.

Form: 421-003

(2)

Tough Enough¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: C Lee| T: J Tate| OR: 87| D

15/2

Hit the target in a Windsor handicap (6f, good to firm) on his reappearance last season and also struck at Sandown (7f, good to soft) in August. Far from disgraced at Newcastle when last seen in December and, now 2 lb lower and given that he goes well fresh, a bold show could be on the way.

Form: 619065-

(9)

Secret Guest^p1¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: B Smart| OR: 87| D

25/1

Back on the scoresheet at Newcastle in February and went down fighting when a close third to Tinto at Thirsk last month. Another respectable displat at Redcar (6f, soft) recently but he'll need to improve for the addition of cheekpieces in order to emerge on top here.

Form: 6-21533

(7)

Radio Goo Goo²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: P D Evans| OR: 87| CD

15/2

Enjoyed a highly productive spell during May/June last season, winning 4 times (including over C&D) before finishing a good fourth at Royal Ascot. Having slipped down the weights he got his head back in front at Ripon (6f, good to firm) last time but this assignment arguably calls for a career-best.

Form: 9-46351

(4)

Buccabay²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 84| D

18/1

Doubled his tally when scoring in good style in a Bath handicap in September and positive start to this season when going close at Ascot (5f, good). Wasn't disgraced back at 6f there next time, albeit leaving the impression that the minimum trip is probably optimum.

Form: 2483-20

Non-Runners

(1)

Wiltshire²¹

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: W J Haggas J: Non Runner

(13)

Tinto²¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 8

T: M Dods J: Connor Beasley

Forecasts

Billyjoh (11/2), Wiltshire (11/2), Fresh (13/2), Al Barez (13/2), Radio Goo Goo (15/2), Tough Enough (15/2), Batal Dubai (8/1), Tinto (8/1), Mustajaab (17/2), Gisburn (16/1), Lir Speciale (16/1), Buccabay (18/1), Abduction (18/1), Intrinsic Bond (20/1), Aramis Grey (22/1), Secret Guest (25/1)

This looks wide open and a chance is taken on LIR SPECIALE, who made an encouraging start for this this yard when returning from an eight-month absence at Newmarket and stepping back up to this trip will be in his favour. Fresh probably isn't as good as he once was but his mark reflects that and he is feared most, while old rivals Al Barez and Billyjoh need considering, too.