HAYDOCK (13 Jul 2005)

Good To Firm

8:25 Bet Fractional Odds At betdaq.co.uk Handicap (3) (3yo+,0-90)

[off 8:25] £9,923.55, £3,053.40, £1,526.70, £763.35 (1m30y) 1m

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Hadrian (IRE) (7) M Johnston 3 8-10 K Darley 7/2F 83 — —

2 1 Goodbye Mr Bond (9) E J Alston 5 9-1 D Allan 5/1 79 — —

3 nk Little Jimbob (1) R A Fahey 4 9-5 P Hanagan 9/2 83 — —

4 1¼ Anduril (6) I W McInnes 4 8-10 b R Winston 12/1 74 — —

5 ½ Stoic Leader (IRE) (4) R F Fisher 5 9-12 L Fletcher 20/1 90 — —

6 2 Libre (10) F Jordan 5 9-0 D Holland 12/1 78 — —

7 ¾ Ballyhurry (USA) (5) J S Goldie 8 8-7 J P Spencer 25/1 71 — —

8 1½ Nashaab (USA) (8) P D Evans 8 9-12 v R Mullen 8/1 90 — —

9 1 Obrigado (USA) (3) W J Haggas 5 9-2 R Hills 5/1 80 — —

10 nk Cat´s Whiskers (2) M W Easterby 6 8-10 t Dale Gibson 33/1 74 — —

10 ran TIME 1m 43.00s (slow by 1.00s) TOTAL SP 111%

NON RUNNER: Spring Goddess (IRE)

1st OWNER: Highclere Thoroughbred Racing XXIII BRED: Lady Halifax TRAINER: M Johnston

2nd OWNER: Peter J Davies

3rd OWNER: Dale Scaffolding Co Ltd

TOTE WIN £3.60 PL £1.80, £2.80, £2.00; Ex £20.10; CSF £19.27; TRICAST £78.67

ANALYSIS: A competitive handicap with most of the field in decent form, so this was a taking effort from HADRIAN, the only three-year-old in the line-up, who had shown improved form in winning at Epsom on his previous start and confirmed he is on the upgrade by defying a 5lb rise in the weights. Always prominent, he led over 2f out and was good value for his winning margin as he looked in command but idled in front. Another rise in the handicap is on the cards but so is further progress and he is just the sortwho could give a good account in one of the valuable races at Glorious Goodwood that his trainer habitually plunders. He will be at least as effective, if not more so, stepped up to 1m2f.

Goodbye Mr Bond showed he continues in form, keeping on well on the outside but unable to catch the progressive winner, and ought to continue to give a good account.

Little Jimbob could not dominate as he had at Beverley on his previous start but still confirmed the improved form he showed there, always to the fore on the inside.

Hard-luck story of the race was Anduril, who was denied a clear run from well over 1f out and had to be switched right. He would probably not have caught the winner, but he would have finished closer and is clearly in fair form, though he is less than straightforward.

Stoic Leader ran creditably but probably needs some leniency from the handicapper if he is to get back to winning ways.

Libre was keen once more but did respectably.

Ballyhurry was another not to get much luck in running, though he did not have the pace to take advantage when he did get clear.