Racecards
14:15 Haydock Park
Bet365.com Handicap (Class 2)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 1m 3f 200y
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- £22,500 added
- Form 12-5
- Age 3
- Weight 9-7
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey Ted Durcan
slowly into stride and went left start, in touch in rear and took keen hold, switched right over 2f out, picked up well from over 1f out to lead inside final furlong, ran on
- Form 232-017
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey G Baker
in touch in rear, pushed along over 4f out, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
- Form 653-115
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey E Ahern
prominent, led well over 1f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, unable to quicken
- Form 21-2501
- Age 3
- Weight 8-9
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
tracked leader, ridden and every chance from 2f out until leant left onto rival entering final furlong, stayed on, not pace of winner
- Form 73-1
- Age 3
- Weight 8-2
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey David Probert
led, ridden 2f out, soon headed, still every chance when squeezed for room on inside entering final furlong, no impression after
Verdict
The regally-bred ANHAR can gain his second career win here at the main expense of Berling and Bowdler's Magic. A snip at $950,000 (no surprise given his siblings include Yesterday and Quarter Moon), the Godolphin colt has been given a break since finishing a well-held last of five at Newmarket on his comeback. He should have come on plenty for that run and with this longer trip likely to suit he can win in a first-time tongue-tie. Berling won despite plotting a wayward course at Newbury and he was then far from disgraced at Ascot in the King George V Stakes. He is up another 2lbs in the weights but he looks capable of defying it. Nurture drops in grade and although she doesn't look the most straightforward she is not discounted off 93, Tipperary Boutique represents a yard that do well here and she should relish the longer trip, whilst Bowdler's Magic was well-backed ahead of his Chester win and he looks to be back on the right track although he is well-held by Berling on their Ascot run. Mecox Bay has a more appealing profile than Kingdom Of Munster despite Cockney letting down his Folkestone maiden form, however the feeling is that Anhar can outclass his rivals.
Formwatch
Anhar (USA) 9-2 (8-12) Held up in touch in steadily run race, ridden over 2f out, no impression, last of 5, 4l behind Gardening Leave (8-12) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo lst stk (1) gf in May.
Nurture (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Awkward leaving stalls, held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, no impression, 7th of 8, 9l behind Eleanora Duse (8-12) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gf in Jun.
Berling (IRE) 3-1fav (8-9) Held up towards rear, steady headway when badly hampered lost place and dropped to rear over 2f out, switched to outside 2f out, rallied from over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, almost snatched 3rd, not able to recover, 5th of 18, 3l behind Dandino (8-13) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Bowdler's Magic 5-2fav (9-5) Tracked leader 3f, remained in touch, outpaced and pushed along over 3f out, ridden and headway to challenge on outside over 1f out, led and edged left final 50 yards, kept on, won at Chester 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun beating Park View (8-13) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Mecox Bay (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Tracked leader, led 2f out, edged left soon after, narrowly headed over 1f out, rallied gamely to regain lead post, won at Folkestone 1m 2f mdn auc stks (5) gf in Jun beating Cockney (8-13) by shd, 10 ran.
Tipperary Boutique (IRE) 16-1 (8-8) Held up in rear, no real progress over 2f out, 7th of 8, 6l behind Myplacelater (8-3) at Newbury 1m 2f con stks (3) gd in Apr.
Kingdom Of Munster (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Mid-division, lost place over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 11th of 12, 14l behind Yaa Wayl (8-8) at Chester 1m 3yo hcp 0-100 (2) gs in May.