mid-division, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace
held up towards rear, switched right and headway over 2f out, one-paced final furlong
prominent, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and no extra final furlong
held up behind leaders, push edged along 2f out, hard ridden and ran on gamely final furlong, lead post
tracked leader, led over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on strongly final furlong, headed post
prominent, ridden over 1f out, no extra and weakened inside final furlong
held up mid-division, pushed along over 2f out, one-paced final furlong, weakened
held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, ran on final furlong, nearest finish
prominent, ridden over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
mid-division, pushed along halfway, weakened final furlong
mid-division, effort over 2f out, stayed on same pace
led, headed over 2f out, no extra, weakened final furlong
towards rear, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong
towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
With so much depending on the weather, it is difficult to sort through Haydock's best race of the year. At the moment the forecast fast ground would certainly favour the likes of Malhub, Three Points and the luckless Twilight Blues. In the event of fast ground Malhub would be the selection. He has really got his act together this year and on his seasonal reappearance, he smashed the course record at Yarmouth on his favoured fast surface, without coming off the bridle. He then followed up in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meting (formerly the Cork and Orrery), where he had several of todays rivals behind him. There was an excuse for his defeat in the July Cup, as the ground had gone against him there. His next outing and arguably his best outing to date was in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York, behind the sprinter of the year Kyllachy. He probably didn't receive the credit he deserved for that as he raced down the slower part of the track that day. There will be plenty of dangers including the blinkered Danehurst, who bounced back to form last time. She seems to handle most types of ground and should give a good account. Three Points, well down the field on heavy ground in this event last year will be hoping the rain stays away. He had a nice confidence booster last time and if the ground stays in his favour, he will be difficult to keep out of the frame. Twilight Blues lost more ground at the start than what he was beaten in the July Cup and he could run well at a big price, while Nayyir, who has come a long way in a short time is interesting running over this trip for the first time. He is a horse who travels well in his races and is very much on the shortlist. Invincible Spirit can be guaranteed to run his usual honest race, but he just falls short at this level, while Frenchmans Bay looks to have something to prove now. Landseer is respected, but his yard have been under a cloud in recent weeks and is passed over, but Continent and Bahamian Pirate are both high class sprinters on their day. The former takes a bit of knowing and usual pilot Darryll Holland has to go elsewhere. He handles most types of ground and this looks quite a challenge for Keith Dalgleish, while stablemate Bahamian Pirate has always threatened to win a big one and if things go his way, this could be his day. Japanese mare Air Thule handles most types of ground and there is little between her and May Ball, although the latter is at her best when she can get her toe in. Neither should be good enough at this level. Last years runner-up Mount Abu will need the heavens to open if he is to have a chance and Orientor, who has struggled in the face of some difficult tasks this term, again looks up against it.
