Racecards
18:20 Haydock Park
George Duffield Apprentice Handicap (Class 5)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 5f
- Going: Good to Firm, Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- £4,700 added
- Form 321242-
- Age 5
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer N Wilson
- Jockey Samuel Drury
behind, ridden halfway, kept on final furlong
- Form 00700-7
- Age 7
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer J M Bradley
- Jockey Billy Cray
chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened
- Form 35-8462
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer Paul Green
- Jockey Andrew Heffernan
broke well, soon towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
- Form 64211-3
- Age 7
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer Peter Grayson
- Jockey C I Gillies
slowly into stride, soon mid-division, hung left over 1f out, soon weakened
- Form 5007-67
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer M Mullineaux
- Jockey M J J Murphy
chased leaders, weakened over 1f out
- Form 120-000
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey M Coumbe
squeezed out at start, tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish
- Form 146-544
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer B P J Baugh
- Jockey Declan Cannon
close up, ridden to lead 1f out, headed towards finish
- Form 4710-20
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 63
in touch, effort 2f out, every chance 1f out, no extra towards finish
- Form 414-836
- Age 8
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer D W Barker
- Jockey G Bartley
led, ridden and headed 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
- Form 3331/6
- Age 4
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 58
- Trainer A Berry
- Jockey Danielle Mccreery
in touch and keen, ridden and hung left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Verdict
Five furlongs and fast ground suits Hotham, whose three wins have come in that way, and he looks just about good enough to win from this mark, while Lady Bahia may give him most to do. Noel Wilson-trained Hotham is now 6lb higher than when scoring over a stiff 5f at Pontefract in September, but went very close to winning from this mark over 6f last time. Clearly in good nick at present he looks capable of going one better. Lady Bahia has been progressing well just lately for Peter Grayson, winning on the artificial surfaces of both Kempton and Southwell before going close in a Wolverhampton claimer last time. From the same mark here she won¿t be far away. Timber Treasure went well in blinkers last time over Thirsk¿s 6f, and having performed well twice in succession in a visor previously, hopefully the effect of blinkers a second time won¿t be vastly reduced and he can go well for Paul Green, though he is dropped back to the minimum trip for the first time ever and has a bit to prove. Green Lagonda ran well in defeat in similar conditions at Ripon last month but looked too high in the weights next time, Whinhill House is another who looks in the grip of the assessor and with the same comment applying to Comptonspirit we¿ll take Hotham to score.
Formwatch
Hotham 2-1fav (9-3) In touch, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, ran on well inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, nk behind Cerebus (8-9) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Spanish Ace 12-1 (8-13) Raced wide towards rear, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out, last of 7, 12l behind Hereford Boy (8-13) at Folkestone 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gs in Apr.
Timber Treasure (USA) 40-1 (8-11) In touch, ridden over 2f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, headed and no extra close home, 2nd of 18, hd behind Winthorpe (8-12) at Thirsk 6f hcp 0-75 (5) gf.
Lady Bahia (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) In touch, headway over 2f out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 3/4l behind Dodaa (9-7) at W'hampton 5f clm (6) pol.
The History Man (IRE) 40-1 (8-5) Led far side, ridden and effort 1f out, one pace, 7th of 17, 6l behind Royal Envoy (8-7) at Thirsk 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Mandurah (IRE) 16-1 (7-11) Chased leaders stands side, ridden 2f out, no impression final furlong, 10th of 17, 7l behind Royal Envoy (8-7) at Thirsk 5f hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Comptonspirit 16-1 (8-12) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 17, 3 1/2l behind Jilly Why (8-11) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Green Lagonda (AUS) 10-3fav (8-12) Prominent, ridden and every chance 2f out, soon faded, 14th of 17, 9l behind Jilly Why (8-11) at Nottingham 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gd.
Whinhill House 9-4co-fav (9-4) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, not clear run over 1f out, no impression after, 6th of 7, 4l behind Angelofthenorth (8-13) at Musselburgh 5f clm (6) gf.
Wicked Wilma (IRE) 20-1 (8-8) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, soon beaten, last of 6, 7l behind Swift Princess (9-13) at Redcar 5f fll hcp (4) sft.