14:05 Haydock

Saturday 26 September 2020

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1015:4516:15

Close Brothers Handicap

Off time: 14:06 | Winning time: 1m 45.45s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Key Victory^p²³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 105| D

7/1

Smart handicapper who resumed winning ways at Meydan (1m) in January, albeit seen to good effect on the day and not in same form back at that venue in February but no forlorn hope on return to action.

Form: 0400-15

(1)

Cardsharp¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 97

12/1

Bounced back to form when third in a 7f Goodwood handicap on penultimate start but his subsequent Sandown effort was rather disappointing and his best efforts have come at up to 7f.

Form: 030039

(9)

Milltown Star¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: G Lee| T: M R Channon| OR: 99

11/2

French listed winner last autumn and showed he's trained on well in 2 outings this term, keeping on close home when midfield in a 7f Doncaster handicap 16 days ago. Worth another crack at 1m now.

Form: 5321-46

(5)

Alternative Fact⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: D Tudhope| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 95| CD

4/1

Solid start to the season and duly back to winning ways here (1m) in July, underlining how well he handles cut in the ground. Not seen to best effect at Goodwood (9.9f) latest and expected to go well.

Form: 1-63120

(3)

Nicholas T⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 94| D

22/1

Each of his last 6 victories have come at Ayr, latterly over 10f at that venue in June. However, exploits have been rather underwhelming in the main since, including at aforementioned venue last twice

Form: 100097

(4)

Hayadh¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: S H James| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 93| C| D

10/1

Landed th Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m) last Spring and arrives here looking as good as ever, readily landing a 1m Musselburgh handicap 2 weeks ago. However, revised mark demands more in this stronger contest

Form: 68-1941

(8)

Crownthorpe²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 92| D

25/1

Backed at long odds when landing final start at York (7.8f) last autumn but yet to fire from inflated marks in 2 starts this term but the handicapper has relinquished his grip.

Form: 36F1-09

(10)

Danyah^h²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: P J Dobbs| T: Owen Burrows| OR: 93| BF

5/2

Progressive 3-y-o who added to his tally on return at Doncaster (7f) and performed with credit without being seen to best effect either start since. Remains with potential and high on shortlist.

Form: 173-133

(7)

Just Hiss^p⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-6| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 84| D

13/2

Cashed in on reduced mark at Ripon (1m) last month and similar form when fourth there next time. Seemed unsuited by the step back up to 1¼m latest and not discounted for all he's out of the weights.

Form: 906148

Non-Runners

(2)

Mustarrid³⁵

Weight: 8-6| Age: 6

T: Ian Williams J: Gavin Ashton

Forecasts

Danyah (5/2), Alternative Fact (4/1), Milltown Star (11/2), Just Hiss (13/2), Key Victory (7/1), Hayadh (10/1), Cardsharp (12/1), Mustarrid (16/1), Nicholas T (22/1), Crownthorpe (25/1)

A winner on return to action at Doncaster, DANYAH has twice performed well without being seen to best effect in handicaps at Newbury/Ripon in recent weeks and the strong suspicion is his revised mark remains an exploitable one. Milltown Star has been running creditably since returning and is also considered, along with C&D winner Alternative Fact who shaped better than the bare result last time.