15:15 Haydock

Friday 19 July 2024

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Victor Welsh Ltd Handicap

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 1m 13.29s

(10)

Paddy's Day¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Alex Jary⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 75| D

6/1

Good second of 14 at Newcastle (5f) last month and respectable fifth of 13 back on turf at Ripon (5f again), keeping on from too far back. One to consider back at 6f for the first time in a while.

Form: 262725

(6)

He's An Angel^t¹²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: T Collier| OR: 72| D

33/1

Racked up an AW 4-timer for Peter Niven at the start of 2024. Winning run came to an end when fifth at Southwell in March and he's been off since. Returns to action under the care of a new trainer.

Form: 0-11115

(3)

Captain Cuddles¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Sean Kirrane| T: Fionn McSharry| OR: 72| D

20/1

Twelve runs since sole win in 2022. 22/1, eleventh of 13 in handicap at Nottingham (6f, good) 13 days ago. Others are more persuasive.

Form: 0380-80

(5)

Starproof²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: W Muir & C Grassick| OR: 72| BF| D

10/3

Creditable second of 12 in handicap at Newbury (6f, good to firm) last month but merely underlined her inconsistency when only seventh of 9 at Ffos Las since.

Form: 24-5627

(2)

Baba Reza⁴³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 71| DWS

17/2

Absent since a couple of below-par runs in spring 2023. Betting perhaps the best guide to expectations after such a long time off the track.

Form: 2738/94-

(9)

Royal Elysian^b²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J Ferguson| OR: 75| D

5/2

Is threatening to come good soon, faring best of those from off the pace when third of 10 at Newmarket in first-time blinkers (retained) 4 weeks ago. Player.

Form: 41-3543

(1)

Our Absent Friends^t¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 69| D

9/2

Down in weights and back to form when narrowly denied at Ripon (5f) 11 days ago. Good shout off the same mark, particularly if Mark Winn's claim is taken into account.

Form: 906002

(7)

Secret Road^h¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Aiden Brookes⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 66| D

16/1

Latest win at Southwell in March but below par back on turf twice since. Our Absent Friends is the more obvious of the yard's pair.

Form: 374155

(8)

Glitterella²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Watson| T: C G Cox| OR: 70

16/1

Promise in maidens at 2 but well held in 2 handicaps since returning to action. Still early days but need to see more.

Form: 624-99

Non-Runners

(4)

Vince Lombardi¹³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 5

T: D & C Kubler J: Saffie Osborne

Forecasts

Royal Elysian (5/2), Starproof (10/3), Our Absent Friends (9/2), Paddy's Day (6/1), Vince Lombardi (15/2), Baba Reza (17/2), Glitterella (16/1), Secret Road (16/1), Captain Cuddles (20/1), He's An Angel (33/1)

OUR ABSENT FRIENDS gets the nod off the same mark as when narrowly denied at Ripon early last week. Royal Elysian leaves the impression she can win a handicap before long and is second choice ahead of Paddy's Day.