13:13 Haydock

Saturday 31 May 2025

All13:1313:4814:2314:5815:3316:0816:43

Betfred 'Play Fred's 5 Million' Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 2m 31.05s

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(13)

Prydwen¹²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Liam Wright⁽⁵⁾| T: George Scott| OR: 107| CD

33/1

C&D winner but pulled up in conditions event at King Abdulaziz (14.9f, good to firm) when last seen out in February. Has a bit to prove after a break.

Form: 9811-64

(3)

Naqeeb¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Ryan Sexton| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 103| C| D

16/1

Course winner who shaped well on his yard debut (formerly with William Haggas) after 8 months off when sixth of 12 in handicap at York (11.8f, good) 17 days ago. Not taken lightly with that run under his belt.

Form: 60200-6

(4)

Shader^p²⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: W Buick| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 99| D

11/4

Progressive Shamardal gelding bagged 1m4f novices at Southwell and Kempton last September. Gelded thereafter and he appeals as the sort to do well in handicaps in 2025 for top yard. Interesting prospect.

Form: 311-

(14)

Stressfree¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97

11/2

Most reliable sort who posted a good second of 12 in handicap at York (11.8f, good) 17 days ago. Can make his presence felt once more despite a 3 lb weights rise.

Form: 237-432

(12)

Faylaq¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 96| D

16/1

Arrives on the up and bidding for a hat-trick following a pair of handicap wins at Hamilton recently, knuckling down well on latter occasion. Up 3 lb but not taken lightly in his curent mood.

Form: 214-711

(16)

Imperial Sovereign²³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Cam Hardie| T: P A Kirby| OR: 96

100/1

Winless since his debut but he signed off for 2024 with a good fifth of 15 in handicap at Newmarket (12f) in October for Karl Burke. Not ruled out for his new stable.

Form: 266945-

(6)

King's Code^v¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Jim Crowley| T: P D Evans| OR: 95

28/1

Resumed winning ways at Pontefract in April but he came in only eighth of 12 in handicap at York (11.8f, good) 17 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 581538

(2)

Albany¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R M Beckett| OR: 93| BF

6/1

Low-mileage 5-y-o scored at Nottingham in Ocober but wasn't seen out after a below-par sixth in listed race at Chantilly (9.4f) following month. No forlorn hope stepping up in trip on her reappearance.

Form: 321P/16-

(7)

Mustazeed²¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee| T: Harry Eustace| OR: 92

40/1

Ended 2024 largely in good nick, bagging 1m2f Newbury handicap in September. Off 7 months but he still enters calculations.

Form: 025210-

(9)

Fox Journey²⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 92| D

28/1

Made a winning return at Newmarket last May and continued in good form after for Sir Michael Stoute. Starts out for his new yard on a lenient mark so rates a likely player.

Form: 107663-

(10)

Kildare Legend²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: S Foley| T: J Ferguson| OR: 91| BF| D

9/1

Scored twice around 1m4f in 2024 and resumed from 7 months off with a solid fifth of 11 in handicap at Newcastle (12.4f) 20 days ago. Shouldn't be ruled out with few miles still on the clock.

Form: 52113-5

(15)

Steel Tiger²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Harry Davies| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 89| D

9/1

Improving son of Almanzor resumed with 14f victory at Chelmsford City and backed it up with a very good second of 11 at Newcastle (12.4f) 20 days ago, clear of rest. Merits serious consideration.

Form: 5341-12

(1)

Lieber Power²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 89| D

13/2

A dual winner in 2024 and he got back on track when third of 7 in handicap at Newmarket (12f, good to firm) 28 days ago. That form is working out well so he's very much one to consider eased 1 lb.

Form: 226-903

(5)

Galyx²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: George Bass| T: J Channon| OR: 87

17/2

Signed off for 2024 with victory in 1m2f handicap at Leicester in October. Only ninth of 11 in 1m2f Goodwood handicap on his return but should take a step forward now.

Form: 61341-9

Non-Runners

(11)

Postileo³⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 8

T: A D Brown J: Connor Beasley

(8)

Chillingham⁴²

Weight: 8-13| Age: 6

T: E Bethell J: Callum Rodriguez

Forecasts

Shader (11/4), Stressfree (11/2), Albany (6/1), Lieber Power (13/2), Galyx (17/2), Kildare Legend (9/1), Steel Tiger (9/1), Naqeeb (16/1), Faylaq (16/1), Chillingham (16/1), King's Code (28/1), Fox Journey (28/1), Prydwen (33/1), Mustazeed (40/1), Postileo (50/1), Imperial Sovereign (100/1)

This is wide open but it could pay to side with the Gosdens' lightly-raced 4-y-o SHADER who looked a very good prospect when bagging a pair of AW novices last September and is open to plenty of progress on his first go in handicap company. The progressive Steel Tiger heads the list of dangers, although Fox Journey starts out for Kevin Ryan on a handy-looking mark and must enter calculations, while Naqeeb, Stressfree and Lieber Power all need factoring into this cracking handicap too.