Racecards
13:50 Haydock Park
ApolloBet 50 Free Bets Maiden Stakes (Class 5)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 1m
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
- Winner: £3,234
- 2nd: £962
- 3rd: £481
- 4th: £240
Almared
17- Form 7
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer J R Fanshawe
- Jockey T P Queally
mid-division, ridden on outside 3f out, driven over 2f out, never involved
Beijing Star
219- Form 00-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Mikey Ennis
mid-division, pushed along 3f out, edged left and no impression 2f out
- Form 68-22
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer K A Ryan
- Jockey J P Spencer
soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, no impression on winner final 100 yards
Darkening Night
204- Form 0-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer J Tate
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
led early, prominent, shaken up over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 8-7
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
soon behind, tailed off final 3f
- Form 95
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey Louis Steward
slowly into stride, behind, pushed along 3f out, no headway
Muffarreh (USA)
279- Form 9-
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
towards rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
- Form 83
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer J Tuite
- Jockey Oisin Murphy
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on same pace, no threat
- Form 79
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer R Hannon
- Jockey Richard Hughes
slowly into stride, soon close up on outside, ridden 3f out, one pace and edged left 1f out, no impression on front pair
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Trainer S bin Suroor
- Jockey P Makin
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 3f out, soon lost place
- Form 65-4
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer B W Hills
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
slowly into stride, held up in mid-division, driven 2f out, headway over 1f out, not much room briefly inside final furlong, kept on same pace
- Age 3
- Weight 9-2
mid-division, headway on inside over 3f out, switched right and went 2nd over 2f out, led entering final furlong, clear inside final 100 yards, readily
Verdict
Count Montecristo found a Godolphin entry too good when failing to land the odds at Ripon last time though finished 12 lengths clear of the third. But he is up against a couple of potentially useful newcomers again and Saeed Bin Suroor should have a good line on the chances of STORM CHECK. The latter is a half-brother to the smart Group 3 winner Blue Monday among others and is preferred to 380,000gns debutant Tashaar. Dane O'Neill goes with Ripon fourth Tafahom rather than stablemate Muffarreh while Richard Hughes partners the so far disappointing Royal Toast for the first time.
Formwatch
Almared 11-1 (9-5) In rear, pushed along over 3f out, outpaced over 2f out, 7th of 8, 17l behind Keystroke (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 3yo mdn (5) sft.
Beijing Star 50-1 (9-5) Started slowly, held up towards rear, headway on inside when left chasing leaders 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 14l behind Taysh (9-5) at Lingfield 1m 2yo mdn auc stks (5) pol in Oct.
Count Montecristo (FR) 10-11fav (9-5) Led until over 7f out, led again over 5f out, hard pressed from well over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 5, nk behind Keep In Line (9-5) at Ripon 1m 1f 3yo mdn (5) gd.
Darkening Night 66-1 (9-5) Held up, pushed along 3f out, never on terms, 10th of 17, 17l behind Nebulla (9-5) at Nottingham 1m 2yo mdn (5) gs in Nov.
Ever Pheasant (IRE) 80-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden over 5f out, lost place over 3f out, well beaten final 2f, 7th of 8, 26l behind Alcatraz (9-5) at Chepstow 1m 3yo mdn aut (6) sft.
Hawridge Dancer 50-1 (9-2) Mid-division, ridden and effort 3f out, lost place over 1f out, no threat after, 5th of 10, 9l behind Mustaaqeem (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 3yo mdn (5) gs.
Muffarreh (USA) 25-1 (9-5) Towards rear, pushed along 4f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on into mid-division inside final furlong, never near leaders, 9th of 16, 8l behind White Lake (9-5) at York 7f 2yo mdn (2) gd in Aug.
Pike Corner Cross (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Mid-division on rail, pushed along halfway, switched left over 1f out, plugged on into 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 15l behind Ijmaaly (9-0) at Lingfield 7f mdn stks (5) gd.
Royal Toast (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up in centre group, never on terms, 9th of 20, 15l behind Mitchum Swagger (9-5) at Newbury 7f 3yo mdn (4) gd.
Storm Check New Approach colt out of Lunda.
Tafahom (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Led early, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 7, 13l behind Salieris Mass (9-5) at Ripon 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Apr.
Tashaar (IRE) Sea The Stars colt out of Three Moons.
Raffers Calcutta gelding out of Deserted Island.