15:45 Haydock

Saturday 13 May 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:2517:55

Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 1m 28.12s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(1)

Absolutely So¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 102

7/1

Progressed through the handicap ranks in his younger days to win twice in Listed company although hasn't he hasn't struck in that sphere since 2015 (very easy opportunity). Still doesn't look entirely straightforward and needs a strongly run race to be seen at his best and often pulls his chance away.

Form: 4635-04

(4)

Birchwood⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 108

11/2

Showed his best form last year when wearing a visor for the first time over 7f he turned in a career-best effort at Chester (soft going). Probably better than his finishing position in a couple of subsequent runs stepped up to Group races. Given a try back over 6f on his seasonal debut this year he looked as though he would have a future at this trip (settled better than usual) but connections send him back over 7f this time.

Form: 71756-8

(3)

Certificate²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mulrennan| T: R Varian| OR: 110

9/4

Strong travelling sort who progressed in handicaps last year winning twice over 7f off marks of 97 and 103. Handled the rise in grade to Listed and Group class after that with two creditable efforts to end his season and deserves another chance in this class.

Form: 261124-

(7)

Mutamaded⁵⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Dane O'Neill| T: B J Meehan

20/1

Seen just the twice as a juvenile when running in France and won on his debut over a mile with a second on his only other start. Now comes back from a very long absence with a new handler but hard to know what to expect in this company.

Form: 12/

(5)

Oh This Is Us¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 110

9/4

Very much a progressive sort in handicaps last year picking up five of them with his mark rising from 70 to 101 for his final win. Almost landed a massive Ryan Moore inspired gamble when just touched off in the Lincoln over a mile and gained compensation with a Bath handicap win (over a mile) off a mark of 107. Turned in another cracking effort over C&D last time up further in the handicap (109) and deserves his first chance in Listed grade and not without a chance.

Form: 1-35212

(2)

So Beloved¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 109

6/1

Backed up a very good 2015 season with a win in this contest last year travelling well and being suited by the strong pace of the race. Form after that was consistent enough but he failed to win again and shaped poorly on his return at Leicester recently over 7f and that run leaves him with questions to answer here.

Form: 25430-5

(8)

Von Blucher^t²³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: R Menzies| OR: 99

18/1

Looked well ahead of his mark when landing a mile handicap for the Gosden yard at Newmarket off 86. Added some good placed efforts in big field handicaps after that off higher marks although his progression looked to have reached a plateau on his last start. Now with a new yard having been sold for £95,000 this will be his toughest test yet.

Form: 417233-

Non-Runners

(6)

Johnny Barnes²⁰⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: J & T Gosden J: Robert Tart

Forecasts

Oh This Is Us (9/4), Certificate (9/4), Birchwood (11/2), So Beloved (6/1), Absolutely So (7/1), Johnny Barnes (10/1), Von Blucher (18/1), Mutamaded (20/1)

It’s hard to know what to make of Birchwood who looks as though he might be better back over 6f and got undone in a muddling contest last time out. So Beloved won this last year and his trainer (David O’Meara) has taken the last two runnings of this contest but the yard are a little quiet at the moment. Certificate is the highest rated in this and the Varian yard have made a good start to the season but overall OH THIS IS US deserves a crack at this level and might be able to go one better than he did over C&D last time out.