Racecards
18:40 Haydock Park
Haydock Park Pony Club Nursery Handicap (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 5f
- Going: Good to Firm
- Surface: Turf
- Form 14993
- Age 2
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 92
led, ridden over 1f out, soon edged right, headed close home
- Form 1380
- Age 2
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 86
chased leaders, outpaced 2f out, soon hung left, rallied 1f out, ran on
- Form 8554
- Age 2
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 79
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey K Darley
dwelt, towards rear, effort 2f out, soon weakened, eased inside final furlong
- Form 252213
- Age 2
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer Mrs A Duffield
- Jockey Saleem Golam
soon outpaced, switched right 2f out, hung left over 1f out, headway final furlong, ran on to lead close home
- Form 9422
- Age 2
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer R M Beckett
- Jockey N De Souza
with leader, ridden and every chance 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
- Form 51432
- Age 2
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey N Mackay
prominent, ridden and edged right over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong
- Form 7258
- Age 2
- Weight 8-2
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Fentiman
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 854
- Age 2
- Weight 7-12
- Official Rating 62
- Trainer N Tinkler
- Jockey Kim Tinkler
hung left throughout, always towards rear
Verdict
Stolt gets a narrow vote over the likes of Baileys Hilight, My Valerina and Inflight. It often pays to follow the topweights in nurseries at this time of the year, as past results reveal, and with that in mind we fancy Stolt to get back to winning ways. The Noel Wilson inmate made a winning debut at Musselburgh in April, and since then has taken on good company, including when a close ninth in the Windsor Castle stakes at Royal Ascot. Subsequently third when drawn five of five at Chester three weeks ago, he has the class to give weight away all round. Mark Johnston's juveniles are in terrific form at present, so Baileys Hilight has to be on the short-list as well, although the suspicion is that he will be better served by an extra furlong. My Valerina has been very consistent and indeed was third in a Hamilton nursery but is looking fairly exposed, while Inflight hails from a yard that had a nursery winner on Thursday. All in all it is likely to be a close contest, but Stolt gets our vote.
Formwatch
Stolt (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) With winner, ridden and every chance over 1f out, not quicken towards finish, 3rd of 5, 1l behind Invincible Force (9-2) at Chester 5f nov stk (4) gf.
Bazroy (IRE) 100-1 (9-3) Went right start, soon in touch, ridden and weakening when hampered 2f out, eased final furlong, 15th of 18, 12l behind Elhamri (9-3) at Ascot 5f 2yo lst stk (1) gf in Jun.
Baileys Hilight (IRE) 7-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, one pace until weakened inside final furlong, last of 4, 7l behind Siren's Gift (8-7) at Beverley 5f nov stk (4) gf.
My Valerina (IRE) 9-2 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out and every chance, soon one pace, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Adaptation (9-4) at Hamilton 6f 2yo hcp (3) gf.
Inflight (IRE) 9-1 (8-7) Led, kicked on and 2 lengths clear 1f out, no extra and headed final 50 yards, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Il Palio (9-0) at Lingfield 5f 2yo hcp (5) pol.
Yerevan 6-5fav (8-11) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed well inside final furlong, 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Merry Moon (8-6) at Haydock 6f 2yo sll (4) gf.
The Italian Job 5-1 (8-10) Behind, ridden halfway, never dangerous, 8th of 12, 13l behind Frontline In Focus (8-7) at Ripon 5f 2yo mdn fll aut (5) gf.
Amelie Brown (IRE) 33-1 (8-12) Mid-division, driven halfway, ridden and stayed on final furlong, 4th of 11, 4l behind Dimboola (9-3) at Ripon 5f 2yo mdn (5) gf in Jun.