14:25 Haydock

Saturday 9 September 2023

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

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Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 3m 6.09s

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(7)

Denmark^b¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: James Doyle| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 102

9/4

Lightly raced following debut maiden success at Naas (1m) 13 months ago and produced his best effort yet (blinkered) when finishing clear second to Middle Earth in last month's Melrose Handicap (13.8f) at York. Has to enter the reckoning from 5 lb higher mark on that evidence.

Form: 12-52

(6)

Naqeeb^t¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 100

5/2

Superbly-bred colt (closely related to top-class pair Baaeed and Hukum). Edged out late on by subsequent Melrose winner Middle Earth on third start at Newmarket (12f) in July and duly went one place better when routing 8 rivals at Kempton (12f) 17 days ago. Has to be of interest now handicapping.

Form: 3221

(8)

Davideo¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 99

16/1

Crucially settled better than he did at Royal Ascot when seeing off a next-time-out winner at Newmarket (12f) in July. Trailed in last of 13 in the Melrose at York subsequently though, and he'll need to leave that well behind to feature.

Form: 02-1010

(5)

Lordship¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: A J Farragher⁽³⁾| T: W J Haggas| OR: 95| BF| CD

11/4

Progressed at a rate of knots in middle distance handicaps this summer, completing quick-fire hat-trick (all under this rider) over C&D in July. Winning run ended when fourth in the Melrose at York since but emerged with credit given he missed the break.

Form: 221114

(3)

Edge Of Darkness¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: C Johnston| OR: 84

40/1

Typical improving 3-y-o for this yard, posting a career-best effort when completing hat-trick of handicap victories at Newmarket (12f) on penultimate start last month. Struggled up in class in the Melrose (13.8f) latest and he needs to pull out more to come out on top here.

Form: 3-61119

(2)

French Invasion¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: J Fanning| T: C Johnston| OR: 82

18/1

Taking winner on debut at Kempton in January before following up under a penalty at Lingfield a month later. Never fired first 2 starts on turf this summer but right back on track when second at Newmarket (12f, good to firm) 15 days ago. Certainly has the physique for better still. Up in trip.

Form: 113092

(1)

Blindedbythelights¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-2| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 78| BF

15/2

Typical improving staying handicapper for this yard who doubled his tally at Newbury (12f) in June and looked in control before going markedly right final furlong when second at Ffos Las (12f, soft) 2 weeks ago. This understandably tougher but unlikely he's finished improving.

Form: 69-1212

Non-Runners

(4)

The Goat¹⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: A M Balding J: J P Spencer

Forecasts

Denmark (9/4), Naqeeb (5/2), Lordship (11/4), Blindedbythelights (15/2), The Goat (10/1), Davideo (16/1), French Invasion (18/1), Edge Of Darkness (40/1)

The impeccably bred NAQEEB wasn't extended when bolting up at Kempton 17 days ago and, with his overall form reading very well (runner-up behind Middle Earth on penultimate start) he's fancied to make a bold bid now his sights are set on handicaps/upped in trip. Denmark and Lordship, who both made the frame in the highly-competitive Melrose Handicap at York 2 weeks ago, are others expected to play lead roles.