14:45 Haydock

Monday 8 June 2020

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:5016:2516:55

Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 14:46 | Winning time: 1m 42.1s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Queen Gamrah¹⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 87| D

13/2

Dual AW winner over 7f-1m last autumn and continued her improvement when just toughed off at Wolverhampton on her handicap debut on Boxing Day. No reason why she shouldn't be as effective on turf and looks a big contender for her in-form yard.

Form: 6112-

(4)

Festival Day²⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 84

9/2

Scored easily at Chepstow (7f, good) in novices' company last September. Last seen finishing in rear in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket later that month, when a 7/1 chance. Potentially well treated if she can bounce back.

Form: 218-

(1)

Finest Sound^t1²⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 82WS

10/3

Third in all three juvenile starts and has since been gelded and also had wind surgery. Initial mark looks stiff based on racecourse form, but possible he can now begin to show more. Tongue-tie goes on. Market check suggested.

Form: 333-

(7)

High Flying Bird²²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 80

13/2

Took her five starts to get off the mark last season, doing so in a Class 5 nursery at Newmarket (7f, soft) in October. Up 6lb for this reappearance, so clearly needs to have benefited from another winter under her belt. Not ruled out.

Form: 45231-

(8)

Silver Samurai²¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: B A Curtis| T: M Botti| OR: 79

4/1

Has improved marginally with each run, winning his third start at Brighton (6f, soft) last October. Respectable effort from today's mark at Kempton when last seen in November, and no surprise if he is able to kick on again and go close.

Form: 3214-

(3)

El Naseri²⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 78

8/1

Yet to win but has gone close in all three starts (all 7f, good or soft). Best effort was his latest at York last October. Given that he has done his best work late, the step up in trip looks ideal and he could have a big say from this initial mark.

Form: 223-

(9)

Kuwait Shield²⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77

25/1

Stepped up on his early form with a win on his nursery debut at Catterick last September (7f, good to firm) and went close stepped up 1m at Southwell when last seen, after a 5lb rise. Since gelded and up another 4lb but can't rule him out.

Form: 66512-

(5)

Sir Charles Punch²²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 75

10/1

0-5 for James Given last season, when his best effort was the third of those at Doncaster (7f, good to firm). Changed hands for 17,000gns last October and makes debut for Tim Easterby up in trip and from a workable mark. Interesting.

Form: 55336-

(6)

Trumpets Call²⁵⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: R Menzies| OR: 70

100/1

Showed glimpses of ability last year when with David Loughnane (7f-1m). Has changed hands since and joins a trainer who can improve those she acquires from others, so don't be surprised if this gelding gets involved.

Form: 4466-

Non-Runners

(10)

Blue Skyline²²⁰

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: D R C Elsworth J: Jason Watson

Forecasts

Finest Sound (10/3), Silver Samurai (4/1), Festival Day (9/2), High Flying Bird (13/2), Queen Gamrah (13/2), El Naseri (8/1), Sir Charles Punch (10/1), Blue Skyline (12/1), Kuwait Shield (25/1), Trumpets Call (100/1)

Sir Charles Punch looks interesting on his first run for Tim Easterby, despite his maiden status, and he could go well here. Kuwait Shield is perhaps a more obvious contender along with Silver Samurai and Queen Gamrah. Finest Sound may begin to improve now, but preference is for FESTIVAL DAY, one of two in this for Mark Johnston. This filly made a good impression at Chepstow last September and was not unfancied in Group 2 company next time. Although that proved beyond her, she could be well handicapped for her first run in this company.