Racecards
14:55 Haydock Park
Betfair Exchange Old Borough Cup Handicap (Class 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 6f 1y
- Going: Good to Firm (Firm in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £100,000 added
- Winner: £51,540
- 2nd: £24,170
- 3rd: £12,090
- 4th: £6,040
- Form 634037
- Age 9
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey P Mulrennan
slowly into stride, in rear, headway into midfield 5f out, pushed along 3f out, short of room and hampered over 1f out, short of room again inside final furlong
- Form 151120
- Age 4
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer D O'Meara
- Jockey Jason Watson
in rear, pushed along 3f out, headway over 1f out, hung left under pressure, stayed on inside final furlong
- Form 21613-0
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer J & T Gosden
- Jockey Hollie Doyle
prominent, led after 5f, pushed along when challenged 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened from 1f out
- Form 570084
- Age 8
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer H Main
- Jockey Gina Mangan
led, headed after 5f, pushed along over 3f out, led again over 1f out, stayed on gamely
- Form 402110
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Ben Sanderson
held up in rear, pushed along 3f out, making headway when short of room and hampered 1f out, no extra final 110yds
- Form 200603
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
midfield, pushed along and losing ground over 3f out, dropped to rear and made no impression from over 2f out, eased close home
- Form 552153
- Age 8
- Weight 9-11
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey Jim Crowley
NonRunner
- Form 816-134
- Age 6
- Weight 9-9
- Official Rating 102
NonRunner
- Form 9343-66
- Age 9
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer A M Balding
- Jockey Non Runner
NonRunner
- Form 917245
- Age 6
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Fentiman
NonRunner
- Form 653-205
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey A Kirby
NonRunner
Verdict
Morando and Euchen Glen are probably still a force to be reckoned with in handicaps but this trip may be too short for Reshoun and Rajinsky is also a thorough stayer. Island Brave won this last year when 3lb higher but looks held by a few of these on more recent form and Dark Jedi is getting no help from the handicapper, though was ahead of Haliphon at Hamilton eight days ago. Evaluation has done nothing but improve but has been raised a further 3lb since finishing second at Sandown. CONTACT never seems to run a bad race and could offer some value against likely hot favourite Soulcombe, who has been hit with a 14lb hike in the ratings for winning the Melrose in effortless fashion at York. Golden Flame, a winner on this card 12 months ago, looks best of the rest.
Formwatch
Euchen Glen 12-1 (9-4) In rear, pushed along and headway over 1f out, nearest finish, 7th of 20, 3 1/4l behind Trawlerman (9-4) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Charging Thunder 9-1 (9-5) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 10th of 16, 9 1/4l behind Farhan (9-0) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Amtiyaz 9-1 (9-7) Raced keenly and led early, chased leaders, pushed along 4f out, lost place over 2f out, 13th of 16, 12 3/4l behind Farhan (9-0) at York 1m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Island Brave (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Rear mid-division, ridden on outside 2f out, headway and hung right 1f out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 4th of 10, 1 1/4l behind Themaxwecan (9-9) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Haliphon 11-2 (9-8) In touch, pushed along and headway 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong, 11th of 15, 6 1/2l behind Wickywickywheels (9-0) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Golden Flame (IRE) 16-1 (9-8) Led, ridden and headed narrowly 1f out, kept on well, no extra closing stages, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Themaxwecan (9-9) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Reshoun (FR) 25-1 (9-5) Towards rear, outpaced over 3f out, stayed on final furlong, no chance with winner, almost took 2nd, 3rd of 6, 14 1/4l behind Quickthorn (9-5) at York 2m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Rajinsky (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Mid-division, closed on outside 10f out, ridden over 2f out, went 4th inside final furlong, kept on, 4th of 20, 3l behind Trueshan (10-8) at Newcastle 2m hcp (2) pol in Jun.
Morando (FR) 28-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, ridden over 3f out, driven over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 6th of 17, 3 1/4l behind Get Shirty (9-8) at Haydock 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Jul.
Dark Jedi (IRE) 14-1 (9-12) In touch, pushed along and headway 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 4 1/4l behind Wickywickywheels (9-0) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Taipan (FR) 20-1 (9-11) Towards rear, ridden early straight and no impression 2f out, under pressure and 11th on outer over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, nearest at finish, 5th of 14, 2 1/4l behind La Hacienda (8-10) at Killarney 1m 6f hcp Yielding in Aug.
Contact (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) In touch, pushed along and headway approaching final furlong, ran on, nearest finish, 5th of 16, 1 1/4l behind Soapy Stevens (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Going Gone (IRE) 9-1 (9-12) Rear mid-division, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on and every chance 110 yards out, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Themaxwecan (9-9) at Ascot 2m hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Evaluation 9-4fav (9-12) Prominent, ridden and led under 2f out, hung left over 1f out, stayed on well, faced strong challenge final 110 yards, headed final stride, 2nd of 12, shd behind Duke Of Verona (9-2) at Sandown 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Soulcombe 3-1fav (8-4) Very slowly away, in rear, steady headway from 3f out, switched left twice approaching final 2f, led approaching final furlong, ridden clear, eased close home, won at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug beating Caius Chorister (8-13) by 4 1/4l, 13 ran.