13:45 Haydock

Saturday 29 May 2021

All13:1513:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Betway Handicap

Off time: 13:49 | Winning time: 1m 14.24s

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Selected odds by:

(13)

Air Raid²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: J Garritty| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 97| CD

25/1

Useful sprinter when the mud is flying, winning over C&D (soft) last autumn. On a feasible mark but peak fitness has to be taken on trust after 6 months off.

Form: 0/03010-

(14)

Bielsa^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: K A Ryan| OR: 95| BF| D

4/1

Looked a smart prospect as a 4-y-o. Last season was a disappointment but better signs both starts in 2021, latterly in cheekpieces (retained). Has ground conditions to suit. Capable of having a say.

Form: 5595-25

(6)

Punchbowl Flyer^b¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 94| D

18/1

Triple winner over 6f in 2020 and better than ever when resuming winning ways at Windsor (6f, heavy) 12 days ago. Raised to a career-high mark on the back of that, though.

Form: 117-651

(10)

Troubador²⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 94| D

40/1

Very useful at 2, winning 4 times. Found life a lot tougher last year but wouldn't be the first to go missing at 3 and bounce back at 4.

Form: 020500-

(7)

Helvezia²³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Dettori| T: R M Beckett| OR: 93

9/1

7f Chepstow maiden winner last summer and signed off 2020 with improved third in heavy-ground Goodwood listed race (7f again). Drops to sprinting for first time. Dettori booked.

Form: 30133-

(4)

Musicality²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 91| D

17/2

Winner of 2 of first 4 starts at 3, including a 7f Newmarket handicap (good to soft). Found life tougher since but he ought to be sharper for his 6f Ascot return 3 weeks ago. Remains unexposed.

Form: 12188-9

(5)

Golden Apollo²⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: T D Easterby| OR: 90| D

40/1

2019 Ayr Silver Cup winner but drew a blank in 6 outings in 2020. Has generally needed his first run back so perhaps best to look elsewhere.

Form: 842060-

(12)

Brian The Snail¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 89| D

50/1

Useful gelding who resumed winning ways at Southwell (6f) in February. Couple of creditable efforts on AW since but not so good back on turf the last twice.

Form: 147340

(16)

Concierge¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: William Carson| T: M J Attwater| OR: 88| D

14/1

Back to very best when resuming winning ways at Newbury (6f, good to soft) 15 days ago. First 2 were well clear so a 4 lb rise doesn't look too severe. Another to consider.

Form: 794331

(15)

Bernardo O'Reilly²²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁵⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 87| D

12/1

Doncaster winner last September. Has failed to reproduce that since, but reappearance sixth in a big field at Ascot was perfectly respectable and he's dropped back to that successful mark.

Form: 16570-6

(2)

Cold Stare^p,t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D O'Meara| OR: 87| CD

10/1

Won the latest running of this race in 2019. Has shown enough in his last 2 outings to suggest he's in form and he's very much at home with give in the ground.

Form: 8-50025

(11)

Hyperfocus^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 87| CD

10/1

C&D winner on soft last September. Went off hard and weakened to finish well held on York reappearance but could strip fitter now and he's only 1 lb above that successful mark.

Form: 01757-0

(1)

Royal Context²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Jason Hart| T: M Dods| OR: 85| C| D

50/1

Probably needed the run when last of 6 on Ripon reappearance and he finds himself back on the same mark as when scoring over 5f here (soft) last summer. Another who can't be discounted.

Form: 10094-6

(9)

Capote's Dream²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Tom Marquand| T: T Ward| OR: 83| D

9/2

Hasn't looked back since dropped to 6f for new yard, making it 3 wins when seeing off 8 rivals at Windsor (good) 26 days ago. Showed promise on softer than good in Ireland. Major player.

Form: 58-1121

(3)

Show Me Show Me¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-4| J: J Fanning| T: R A Fahey| OR: 78

16/1

Stepped up on reappearance when fourth of 11 at Doncaster (6f, soft) a fortnight ago but it wasn't a performance which suggests he's likely to snap his losing run in a race as strong as this one.

Form: 3900-84

(8)

True Mason^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: David Egan| T: Phillip Makin| OR: 77| D

25/1

Regularly catches the eye, including when third at Doncaster last time. Obviously on a good mark now, but comes with risks attached in re-fitted headgear.

Form: 58-3053

Forecasts

Bielsa (4/1), Capote's Dream (9/2), Musicality (17/2), Helvezia (9/1), Hyperfocus (10/1), Cold Stare (10/1), Bernardo O'Reilly (12/1), Concierge (14/1), Show Me Show Me (16/1), Punchbowl Flyer (18/1), True Mason (25/1), Air Raid (25/1), Golden Apollo (40/1), Troubador (40/1), Brian The Snail (50/1), Royal Context (50/1)

In a race every bit as competitive as the numbers might suggest the vote goes the way of CAPOTE'S DREAM, who has thrived for a drop to 6f for new trainer Tom Ward and is selected to remain a step ahead of the handicapper. Bielsa, Concierge, Musicality and 2019 winner Cold Stare head the many possible dangers.