15:30 Haydock

Saturday 28 May 2022

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:40

Betfred John Of Gaunt Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:30 | Winning time: 1m 28.65s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Catch Twentytwo¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: David Egan| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 108| D

100/1

Placed 3 times at Grade 1 level in South Africa last year but he's failed to beat a single rival on both starts for this yard. This no easier task so he looks an easy swerve.

Form: 3222-74

(4)

Happy Power³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 110| D

7/1

Ended a losing run in weaker company than he had been accustomed to keeping when landing 3-runner listed race (9/4) at Leicester (7f) 5 weeks ago, quickening to lead under 2f out. Merits consideration for all this is obviously tougher.

Form: 368-621

(6)

Kinross²²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: James Doyle| T: R M Beckett| OR: 114| CD

9/4

Smart form since being gelded, landing this corresponding event and Lennox Stakes at Goodwood in 2021. Shaped better than the bare result when mid-field in Group 1 at Ascot on his final 4-y-o start (finished with running left after twice being hampered) so is fancied to feature on return.

Form: 611549-

(2)

Laneqash²⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Varian| OR: 112| D

5/1

Low-mileage 4-y-o who posted excellent placed efforts over 7f in Hungerford Stakes at Newbury and Park Stakes at Doncaster. Ended last term with a solid fourth to Benbatl in Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket and reappears after 8 months off having been gelded.

Form: 120/234-

(3)

Misty Grey²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 107| D

22/1

Smart performer on AW, successful 4 times for trainer at up to this trip. Respectable effort on his first turf start since September 2020 in a listed contest over C&D 3 weeks ago but he's likely to come up short in this company.

Form: 421-233

(5)

Pogo⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 112| D

17/2

Globetrotter in recent outings who was last seen finishing tailed off in Group 2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan in March. Standout effort last season came when runner-up in Group 2 Joel Stakes so he's not taken lightly if in the same mood back on European soil.

Form: 6327-50

(7)

Spycatcher¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 110

7/1

Proving very consistent since landing 9-runner listed race at Lingfield in February, holding his own in Group 2 company at York 17 days ago. Could get involved if they go hard up front.

Form: 123-132

(8)

Sunray Major¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 108| D

7/2

Smart horse who resumed with good fifth in Group 2 at Sandown last month. Unable to land a blow upped further in grade when sixth of 9 to Baaeed in Lockinge at Newbury since but he's in top hands and it's still early days.

Form: 4/110-56

Forecasts

Kinross (9/4), Sunray Major (7/2), Laneqash (5/1), Happy Power (7/1), Spycatcher (7/1), Pogo (17/2), Misty Grey (22/1), Catch Twentytwo (100/1)

KINROSS made his breakthrough at pattern level when landing this corresponding event last season and, with his final 4-y-o start easily excused (hampered on more than one occasion), Ralph Beckett's charge can regain the winning thread provided he's ready to roll. Happy Power may provide the main threat having snapped a lengthy losing sequence in a listed event at Leicester recently, ahead of Sunray Major, in what looks an open renewal of this Group 3.