16:15 Haydock

Saturday 5 September 2026

All13:2513:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

Betfair Be Friendly Handicap

3YO plus | Class 2 | 5f | 10 Runners | Turf

(4)

Poatan¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: D Egan| T: George Scott| OR: 97

7/1

Landed 6f Windsor novice last summer. Lightly raced since and resumed with excellent third in listed race at Sandown (5f) in June. Not ideally drawn when seventh of 19 on his handicap debut at York (5f, good) 17 days ago. May still do better.

Form: 3513-37

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(6)

Toyotomi⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 94| D

6/1

Listed winner when trained in France. Got off the mark for current yard at Goodwood (6f, soft) in June and not disgraced under similar conditions after 11 weeks off when sixth of 10 in handicap there last week. Possibilities.

Form: 563106

(7)

Arklow Lad^p,t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: C Lee| T: M Appleby| OR: 92| D

6/1

Gained a third win for his current yard this season in the 'Dash' (5f, soft) at Epsom in June. Came in last of 11 in handicap at Hamilton (5f) on firmer ground since but no surprise to see him get back on track now.

Form: 131510

(8)

Advertised¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Oliver Stammers| T: Grant Tuer| OR: 93

11/2

Dual 6f/7f winner at Newcastle last year. Bounced back to form with second of 11 in handicap at Hamilton (5f, good) 15 days ago. Needs considering nudged up 2 lb.

Form: 14-2902

(1)

Black Star Boy^t¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: E Walker| OR: 90| D

16/1

Made a successful return at Sandown (5f) in April but has failed to kick on, tongue tied for the first time when twelfth of 19 in handicap at York (5f, good) 17 days ago. Bounce back is needed.

Form: 18-1600

(5)

Trilby^p,t⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: S England| OR: 88| CD

11/4

Rejuvenated by fitting of cheekpieces and notched a third success of 2026 in 9-runner handicap at Beverley (5f, heavy) a week ago. Up 3 lb but this smooth traveller goes really well in the mud and has a fine record at Haydock so another bold showing is on the cards.

Form: 131041

(9)

Sturlasson¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: S Donohoe| T: J Ryan| OR: 86| D

12/1

A 3-time 5f winner in 2025. In good form this season until only tenth of 11 in handicap at Hamilton (5f, good) 15 days ago. The sort to bounce back.

Form: 4-52940

(3)

Marching Mac^p1,t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Tyler Heard| T: P S McEntee| OR: 83| D

15/2

Scored twice on soft ground last October and back to winning ways with underfoot conditions to suit at Sandown (5f) in June. Not disgraced after 11-week break when a fading fourth of 8 back there (5f, soft) a week ago. Can take a step forward in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 404314

(2)

Elara May⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: H Crouch| T: P J McBride| OR: 83| D

6/1

A 4-time 5f winner at 2 yrs. Lightly raced this season but looked as good as ever when second of 4 in handicap at Yarmouth (5f, good) 6 days ago, finishing clear of rest. This is tougher but she's not taken lightly off an unchanged mark.

Form: 314-842

(10)

Jer Batt¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Ray Dawson| T: T D Barron| OR: 80| BF| CD

9/2

Losing run is mounting up but quite lightly raced this season and not beaten far in the mud here on Friday when well backed. Second in this in 2024.

Form: 7-73345

Forecasts

Trilby (10/3), Elara May (5/1), Jer Batt (5/1), Advertised (11/2), Arklow Lad (13/2), Poatan (8/1), Toyotomi (10/1), Marching Mac (12/1), Sturlasson (14/1), Black Star Boy (25/1)

A case can be made for a few of these but TRILBY hasn't looked back since the cheekpieces went on and is fancied to garner a fourth victory of 2026, with conditions right in his favour at a track he goes well at. Elara May is feared most on the back of a very good Yarmouth second, although Arklow Lad and Advertised can both play a prominent role too.