15:00 Haydock

Saturday 7 September 2024

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:0716:4017:15

Betfair Be Friendly Handicap

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 58.28s

(4)

Shagraan¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Appleby| OR: 98| BF| D

9/4

Lightly raced for this stable and landed 5f handicap at Glorious Goodwood. Backed it up with a very good fifth of 22 in handicap at York (5.4f, good to firm) 17 days ago. Player off an unchanged mark with Oisin Murphy up.

Form: 235415

(5)

Toca Madera⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Levey| T: B J Meehan| OR: 97

9/1

Back to winning ways at Windsor in August but only ninth of 13 in handicap at Southwell (5f) 9 days ago. Sort to bounce back though.

Form: 3-00319

(6)

Jer Batt⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rossa Ryan| T: T D Barron| OR: 92| CD

17/2

C&D winner in August but he beat just one in handicap at Southwell (5f) 9 days ago. Others appeal more.

Form: 20-4310

(11)

American Affair²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Amie Waugh⁽⁵⁾| T: J S Goldie| OR: 92| D

10/3

Largely progressive sprinter who bagged his second victory of 2024 at Thirsk (5f) in June. Runner-up over C&D and at Pontefract since so he must enter calculations.

Form: 3-12122

(10)

Changeofmind¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon| T: D Carroll| OR: 90| D

12/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who got back on track when second of 9 in handicap at Hamilton (5f, soft) 15 days ago. Not taken lightly up just 1 lb.

Form: 198-862

(3)

Hyperfocus^p³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: J Fanning| T: T D Easterby| OR: 86| C| D

28/1

Dual scorer at Chester this summer but he came in only eleventh of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f, 50/1) 37 days ago. It would come as no surprise though to see this four-time course winner bounce back.

Form: 4-90110

(8)

Jumbeau^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Tom Clover| OR: 86| D

15/2

Displayed a good attitude in first-time cheekpieces when going in at Windsor in May. Has continued in good nick, third of 14 in handicap at York (5f, good to firm) 17 days ago. Ought to be in the shake-up again.

Form: 312783

(9)

Rocking Ends³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Ray Dawson| T: Tom Clover| OR: 86| D

14/1

Scored on his stable debut at Windsor in May and added to tally at Newmarket in July. Respectable third of 12 at Goodwood last time. Shortlisted.

Form: 315813

(2)

Night On Earth¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: Kaiya Fraser⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85| D

40/1

Bagged his fourth win of 2024 in 5-runner handicap at Catterick (5f, good) 10 days ago. Can make his presence felt despite taking a 4 lb rise.

Form: 512591

(7)

Looking For Lynda¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Harrison Shaw| T: K R Burke| OR: 84| D

12/1

Won a big-field 5f handicap last September and has posted a number of good displays this term, third of 22 in handicap at York (5.4f, good to firm) 17 days ago. Another bold showing is on the cards.

Form: 377343

Non-Runners

(1)

Designer¹⁷

Weight: 9-5| Age: 5

T: J Butler J: D Egan

Forecasts

Shagraan (9/4), American Affair (10/3), Jumbeau (15/2), Jer Batt (17/2), Toca Madera (9/1), Looking For Lynda (12/1), Changeofmind (12/1), Rocking Ends (14/1), Designer (20/1), Hyperfocus (28/1), Night On Earth (40/1)

A case can be made for most of these but Mick Appleby's SHAGRAAN is the least exposed and fancied to regain winning ways on the back of a very good York fifth last time out. Handily-weighted Looking For Lynda heads the list of dangers, although a solid case can also be made for Jumbeau, American Affair, Change of Mind and Hyperfocus in this very competitive sprint.