14:23 Haydock

Saturday 31 May 2025

All13:1313:4814:2314:5815:3316:0816:43

Betfred 'The Classic Bookmaker' Achilles Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:23 | Winning time: 59.93s

(9)

Democracy Dilemma²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Marco Ghiani| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 105| D

14/1

Had a fine 2024, recording first success at listed level when making all in the Beverley Bullet (5f, good to firm) in August. Showed very good speed again before fading late on into fourth in soft-ground Newbury Group 3 prior to a tame effort at Ascot. Needs to leave low-key reappearance behind.

Form: 34146-0

(5)

Jasour²⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jim Crowley| T: C G Cox| OR: 109| DWS

5/2

Smart colt who was highly tried as a juvenile and hit the ground running last year with a decisive success in the Group 3 Pavilion Stakes at Ascot. Campaigned solely in Group 1 company after and having had a breathing operation ahead of return, this is a big drop in class.

Form: 9/13600-

(1)

No Half Measures²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Hughes| OR: 107| D

10/3

Didn't race at 2 but had a great 3-y-o campaign, notching up a sixth win in Newbury Group 3 in September. Pitched in deep and shaped as though in excellent form when fifth in the Group 1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp and she'll surely run closer to form with her reappearance behind her.

Form: 11615-9

(6)

Seven Questions²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 105| D

28/1

Took his form to another level in first-time headgear when 33/1 winner of the Palace House Stakes a year ago in first-time cheekpieces. Only one effort of note since and having changed yards, he never really looked like following up in that race minus cheekpieces 4 weeks ago.

Form: 13005-7

(2)

Shagraan¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Davies| T: M Appleby| OR: 101| CD

15/2

Doesn't have excessive mileage for a 4-y-o sprint handicapper and didn't do much wrong last term, winning twice and also performed well in defeat on several occasions. Same story when hitting the frame both starts this month and doesn't have masses to find upped in class.

Form: 1519-34

(7)

Rage Of Bamby¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 104

25/1

Gained listed breakthrough at Newmarket on final start of 2024. Tailed-off last of 8 to Inisherin in 1895 Duke of York Stakes at York (6f, good, 33/1) 17 days ago, possibly amiss but she's turned out relatively quickly.

Form: 01421-8

(8)

Balmoral Lady²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mulrennan| T: E Walker| OR: 99| CD

11/2

Four wins during a very productive second half to 2024 and cranked it up another notch when excellent neck second of 11 to Room Service in listed race at Doncaster (6f, heavy). Picked up where she left off when third from inflated mark at Chester and she's a likeable filly.

Form: 71112-3

(4)

Leovanni²⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: W Buick| T: K R Burke| OR: 104| D

4/1

Justified short odds first time up at Nottingham and impressive when ready winner of the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot next start. Wasn't far off that form after a 2-month break when third in Group 2 Lowther Stakes at York (6f) before a heavy defeat at the top level. Receives 3-y-o allowance on return.

Form: 1137-

Non-Runners

(3)

Fahrenheit Seven⁴⁵

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: M D I Usher J: Cieren Fallon

Forecasts

Jasour (5/2), No Half Measures (10/3), Leovanni (4/1), Balmoral Lady (11/2), Shagraan (15/2), Democracy Dilemma (14/1), Rage Of Bamby (25/1), Seven Questions (28/1), Fahrenheit Seven (66/1)

Following a decisive win on last year's reappearance, JASOUR was campaigned exclusively in Group 1 company and having had a breathing operation, he's sure to be well prepared for this return. He can make the most of this drop in grade, probably at the chief expense of No Half Measures, though Leovanni is something of an unknown quantity as a high-achieving juvenile last season getting weight all round here.