14:00 Haydock

Friday 6 September 2024

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Lee Thomas Christy Memorial Handicap

Off time: 14:02 | Winning time: 58.44s

(9)

Grace Angel^b,t²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Jason Watson| T: Darryll Holland| OR: 81| CD

16/1

Confirmed promise of previous effort when scoring at Brightonl last month but didn't back it up at Windsor 22 days ago. Others are more appealing.

Form: 820415

(13)

Never Dark¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Billy Garritty| T: I Jardine| OR: 80| CD

14/1

Made all at Nottingham in July but has found life tougher since, down the field in a competitive event at York last time.

Form: 189260

(12)

Skallywag Bay⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 75| D

15/2

13/8, career best when winning 4-runner handicap at Brighton (5.3f, good to soft) 4 days ago, easily. That form might not be all that strong but she deserves plenty of respect under the penalty.

Form: 4-36341

(4)

Copper Knight^t⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 9-11| J: D Fentiman| T: T D Easterby| OR: 79| D

16/1

Latest win at Chester in June. Mostly respectable efforts since and this likeable veteran can never be underestimated.

Form: 310407

(5)

Arecibo¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-10| J: Zak Wheatley⁽³⁾| T: D Carroll| OR: 78| D

11/1

Unreliable type who hasn't won for some time and wasn't really on his game at Pontefract last time. Capable from this mark on a going day, though.

Form: 845334

(11)

Thunder Star⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Harrison Shaw| T: Jessica Macey| OR: 77| CD

11/1

Showed improved form in handicaps in 2023, winning 3 times with her latest success at Yarmouth (5.2f) in September. Returned to form over C&D on penultimate outing but not in the same form next time. Given a break since.

Form: 19-3426

(1)

The Coffee Pod^p¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 78| D

9/1

Latest win at York in July but hasn't fired on his last couple of outings and others look better treated.

Form: 414380

(10)

Love Wars³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 76| D

18/1

Won her only start as a 2yo and has bettered that on one occasion this term. Last couple of outings have been underwhelming, though, and others are more persuasive.

Form: 1-5276

(2)

Kuwait City^p1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: J Butler| OR: 73| D

9/1

Back to winning ways at Yarmouth in April and shaped encouragingly when eighth of 12 at Newbury (6f, good to firm) in June. Subsequent efforts best excused and his mark is easing back down, so not written off.

Form: 180806

(3)

Secret Mistral⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Jack Doughty⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 73| BF| CD

11/4

Resumed from five months off with a career best in landing 13-runner handicap over C&D in June and has remained in top form since, so expected to give another good account.

Form: 67-1322

(6)

Our Absent Friends^p¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Rowan Scott| T: T Davidson| OR: 72| D

12/1

Dual winner last season who has been knocking on the door lately, again finding one too good in first-time cheekpieces at Ripon 11 days ago. Shouldn't be far away.

Form: 002922

(8)

Zaphea¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 71| D

66/1

Put up one of her better efforts when scoring at Hamilton a fortnight ago but will likely face competition for the lead here and she's not proved the most reliable to date.

Form: 317891

(7)

Bayraat⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: D Egan| T: T P Tate| OR: 64

15/2

Largely consistent in 2023 and back in the groove this year, finishing well when third at York 41 days ago. Looks a big player if the race is run to suit.

Form: 239-073

Non-Runners

(14)

The Thames Boatman²⁸

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: R Hughes J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Secret Mistral (11/4), Skallywag Bay (15/2), Bayraat (15/2), The Coffee Pod (9/1), Kuwait City (9/1), Arecibo (11/1), Thunder Star (11/1), Our Absent Friends (12/1), Never Dark (14/1), Grace Angel (16/1), Copper Knight (16/1), The Thames Boatman (16/1), Love Wars (18/1), Zaphea (66/1)

SKALLYWAG BAY emerged from the fog to score well at Brighton earlier in the week and she might well have enough to defy the penalty if the race doesn't come too soon. Secret Mistral and Bayraat are both obvious dangers.