Racecards
17:45 Haydock Park
Financials At Bet365.com Handicap (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 30y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £7,500 added
- Form 62-2225
- Age 13
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey M Davies
broke well, steadied after 1f, held up, headway over 3f out, carried left when weakening over 2f out
- Form 75-2806
- Age 5
- Weight 9-12
- Official Rating 73
prominent, led after 1f, ridden 2f out, carried head slightly high, edged left over 1f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, strongly pressed, just won on the nod
- Form 349289
- Age 4
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer S Parr
- Jockey Thomas White
led 1f, chased leaders, stayed far side over 4f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 6-00898
- Age 9
- Weight 9-10
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey S W Kelly
held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, stayed on from over 1f out to go 3rd inside final furlong but no chance with front pair
Astrodonna
14- Form 6-26304
- Age 4
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey Michael Hills
held up in rear, ridden 2f out, no response
- Form 853-4
- Age 3
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer H & R Charlton
- Jockey R Mullen
prominent, chased winner over 6f out, ridden over 1f out, wandered inside final furlong, strong challenge towards finish, just denied on the nod
- Form 56-1
- Age 3
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer M L W Bell
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon drifted left, ridden and hung right over 1f out, looked very awkward, soon beaten
- Form 547-035
- Age 3
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer D Donovan
- Jockey Martin Lane
chased leaders, ridden and edged left over 2f out, beaten over 1f out
Hardanger (IRE)
372- Form 397-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer T J FitzGerald
- Jockey M Fenton
Nonrunner
- Form 009655
- Age 4
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 46
Nonrunner
Verdict
An open handicap and GASSIN is given the tentative vote on his handicap debut, while Full Victory and Block Party can also go well. The Michael Bell-trained selection reappeared this season with victory in a Nottingham maiden over this trip, and the form of the race has worked out well, with the runner-up going on to win since. The trainer has a few options with this Selkirk colt, who has plenty of stamina in the bloodlines and with a reasonable mark to start with in handicaps we will side with him. Full Victory was a Bath winner on good to soft back in May and is now 5lbs higher, though he remains competitive. Block Party made a pleasing handicap debut in similar conditions last month and should be able to improve for that experience from a 1lb lower mark here. Old man Will He Wish remains a player from this mark, but wins are now few and far between and success here seems unlikely. Astrodonna doesn't have much in the way of gears and has a tough job to end a lengthy losing streak and Gassin is the one for us.
Formwatch
Will He Wish 5-1 (9-2) Keen, tracked winner, ridden 3f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Dancing Jest (8-8) at Leicester 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Celtic Change (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Held up, headway on outside 2f out, ridden and kept on under pressure final furlong, no impression, 6th of 16, 5l behind Sunnyside Tom (9-9) at Carlisle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun.
This Ones For Eddy 15-2 (10-0) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, last of 9, 14l behind Expensive Problem (9-9) at Windsor 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Jun.
Goodbye Mr Bond 9-1 (9-8) Behind, headway and switched right over 1f out, kept on final furlong, never nearer, 8th of 16, 6l behind Sunnyside Tom (9-9) at Carlisle 1m hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Jun.
Astrodonna 16-1 (8-12) Held up, headway to chase winner over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 4th of 6, 2 1/4l behind Cosmopolitan (10-0) at Newmarket 1m flls hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Jun.
Block Party 4-5fav (9-7) Dwelt, towards rear, effort 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace, no extra when lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 7, 3l behind Queen Martha (9-7) at Doncaster 1m 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Gassin 14-1 (9-0) Soon chasing leader, led over 2f out, driven out, won at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (5) gd in Jun beating All For You (8-9) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
River Dee (IRE) 9-1 (8-6) Towards rear, ridden halfway, headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Mister Tinktastic (9-3) at Pontefract 6f 3yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Jun.
Full Victory (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) In touch, switched left well over 1f out, soon edged left, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3/4l behind Miss Pelling (8-13) at Warwick 1m hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Jun.
Hardanger (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Raced keenly in mid-division, ridden over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 7th of 10, 6l behind Amicus Meus (9-7) at Doncaster 6f mdn stks (5) gd in Jun '08.
Ride A White Swan 8-1 (8-10) Slowly into stride, headway 2f out, soon ridden and one pace, 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Cape Melody (10-0) at Chepstow 6f (5) gd in Jun.