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20:30 Haydock Park

Curlew Handicap (Class 5)

  • 12 Runners
  • Distance: 1m 30y
  • Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
  • Surface: Turf
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 1m 43.61s
  • 12 Ran
1(4)
Silk - Red, White diamond and diamond on cap
  • Form 321931
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-7
  • Official Rating 70

took keen hold, led 2f, chased leader, ridden to leader gain 1f out, held on

2(8)
Silk - Red, Black star, White and Black hooped sleeves, Red cap, Black star
  • Form 13-4425
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-5
  • Official Rating 69

mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlohg

3(3)
Silk - Red and Black diamonds, Red sleeves, Black stars, Black cap, Red diamond
  • Form 592262
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-4
  • Official Rating 68

chased leaders 5f

4(11)
Silk - Light Green, Mauve and Light Green striped sleeves, Mauve cap, Light Green diamond
  • Form 897442
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-3
  • Official Rating 67

always towards rear,

5(12)
Silk - White, Royal Blue sleeves, White armlets, Grey and Royal Blue striped cap
  • Form 362956
  • Age 3
  • Weight 9-2
  • Official Rating 65

behind, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on nearest finish

6(9)
Silk - Mauve, Grey seams, quartered cap
33/1
  • Form 500069
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-10
  • Official Rating 57

with leader, led 6f out, clear over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong

7(2)
Silk - Dark Blue, Red star, White sleeves, Red stars and stars on cap
14/1
  • Form 0768
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-7
  • Official Rating 57

chased leaders 5f

8(1)
Silk - Royal Blue, Yellow sash, diabolo on sleeves
13/2
  • Form 078-68
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-7
  • Official Rating 57

chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, not quicken inside final furlong

9(7)
Silk - PINK and PURPLE check, PINK sleeves, BLACK cap
  • Form 75700
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-5
  • Official Rating 55

held up and pulled hard, riddend and soon headway over 1f out, never dangerous

10(6)
Silk - Black, Red cross belts, White and Red chevrons on sleeves, Red cap
  • Form 299034
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-5
  • Official Rating 54

slowly into stride, switch left and stumbled start, soon mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, every chance inside final furlong, ran on

11(5)
Silk - PINK, PURPLE stars, sleeves and star on cap
  • Form 786957
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-0
  • Official Rating 50

always behind

12(10)
Silk - WHITE, ROYAL BLUE hollow box, RED cap
  • Form 069-592
  • Age 3
  • Weight 8-0
  • Official Rating 53

chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, one pace when edged left inside final furlong

In depth

Verdict

Dragon Slayer can defy topweight at the expense of Dante's Diamond, with Merrymadcap and Comeintothespace likely to make their presence felt in the finale. Dragon Slayer has been placed to win twice already this season, at Southwell and Epsom, and on the latter occasion it proved to be an inspired move by his new trainer Michael Attwater to step him up to an extended mile. Prominent throughout, the son of Night Shift had no trouble staying the trip, and off just a four-pound higher mark here, he can make a bold bid to dominate proceedings. Dante's Diamond has finished runner-up no less than five times during his career and in fact is still a maiden, but Alan Swinbank's charge gave another good account at Thirsk on Monday and should again be on the premises. Merrymadcap will find it hard to reverse Epsom form with the selection on these terms, while Comeintothespace, although second to the useful Rathor at Nottingham, was well beaten and needs to find more. All in all, this race looks tailor-made for Dragon Slayer to score again.

Formwatch

Dragon Slayer (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Tracked leader, led inside final 2f, ridden and held on well final furlong, won at Epsom 1m 1f hcp (5) gd beating Kindness (8-12) by 1/2l, 10 ran.

Paparaazi (IRE) 5-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden over 2f out, one pace and no impression final furlong, 5th of 9, 9l behind Society Music (8-4) at Ayr 1m 3yo hcp (4) gs in Jun.

Dante's Diamond (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on until headed inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Dream Tonic (9-3) at Thirsk 1m 3yo hcp (5) gf.

Comeintothespace (IRE) 10-1 (7-13) Slowly into stride, behind, headway 4f out, ridden over 1f out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Rathor (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp (4) gf in Jul.

Major Magpie (IRE) 10-3fav (9-4) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 6th of 12, 3l behind Azizam (9-9) at Redcar 1m 2f mdn hcp (5) gf.

Topiary Ted 25-1 (8-11) Always behind, 9th of 11, 19l behind Barbirolli (9-2) at Chester 1m 2f 3yo hcp (5) gd in Jul.

Merrymadcap (IRE) 14-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden and stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Dragon Slayer (9-2) at Epsom 1m 1f hcp (5) gd.

Ansells Legacy (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Held up in rear, keen, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on to chase winner inside final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Aviation (8-10) at Haydock 1m 3yo mdn clm (6) gd.