17:00 Haydock

Saturday 28 September 2024

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Watch On Racing TV Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 3m 14.6s

(3)

Percy Shelley^v¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 84

11/4

Useful performer in France who was successful 3 times in 2022. Yet to score in 11 attempts for current yard but has slipped to a good mark as a result and posted arguably his best effort on these shores when hitting the crossbar at Doncaster (1½m, good) recently. Strong claims.

Form: 735362

(2)

Goobinator^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 82| C

9/1

Dual purpose performer who proved he retains his ability following 18 months off when striking at Catterick (1½m, heavy) last October. However, he hasn't fired on all cylinders so far this season and arrives here on the back of a moody display at Chester a fortnight ago.

Form: 45/1-450

(5)

Graphite^t¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-13| J: L Morris| T: T Kent| OR: 81

10/1

Veteran who was better for return spin/following a wind op when second of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (1¾m) last month. However, he has underperformed on turf either side of that, most recently finishing well adrift of Percy Shelley at Doncaster.

Form: 23-6720

(4)

Dark Jedi³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Sean Kirrane| T: T D Easterby| OR: 74| D

17/2

Snapped a long losing run when coming from off the pace to score in tidy fashion at Thirsk in May. Below par since but has edged back down to that winning mark and it's not hard to envisage a bold show from this 8-y-o with conditions in his favour.

Form: 150679

(6)

Three Dons²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Molly Gunn⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 74

6/1

Added another success to what has been a highly productive 2024 campaign when seeing off 4 rivals in good style at Ffos Las (1½m, heavy). Impossible to rule out in current form but now moves up in class off an 8 lb higher mark, so a new personal best is certainly needed.

Form: 111311

(7)

Free Speech^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Shepherd| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 77| C

10/3

Consistent filly who has upped her game equipped with cheekpieces the last twice, scoring on soft ground at Pontefract before following up here (11.6f, good) earlier this month. 4 lb rise fair enough and she has to be respected in her hat-trick bid.

Form: 323311

(1)

Melon¹⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: George Rooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 65

4/1

Has shown ability in a trio of maidens at up to this trip on soft/heavy. Improvement could be on the way now that he's pitched into a handicap and it'll be interesting to see which way he goes in the betting.

Form: 446

Forecasts

Percy Shelley (11/4), Free Speech (10/3), Melon (4/1), Three Dons (6/1), Dark Jedi (17/2), Goobinator (9/1), Graphite (10/1)

PERCY SHELLEY is appealing on the back of a solid effort at Doncaster where he chased home an unexposed, progressive type. The 5-y-o remains on an attractive mark nudged back up 2 lb and he gets the nod ahead of Dark Jedi, who has slipped back to his last winning mark and he has his conditions. The hat-trick seeking Free Speech and handicap-debutant Melon are others to consider.