Favourites have a poor recent record in the Old Newton Cup, and Shraaoh, could be another sort to join those ranks. He looks set to line-up as favourite after strong support in the ante-post market.
His reappearance run was fairly underwhelming and he has yet prove the hype is true to justify his price.
The horse that finished a shade in front of him on his last start is the also lightly raced four-year-old CARNTOP.
A horse that has been patiently trained by Ralph Beckett, and who sprung back to form when coming from a mile behind to claim third on just his seventh start at Epsom.
His three-year-old campaign included second in the Lingfield Derby Trial and he also ran well at the Royal Meeting, again in pattern company behind some +110 rated middle-distance horses.
Carntop has got a decent draw in five, and doesnt deserve to be three times the price of the favourite at 12/1 given he has the better form in the book, and remains with potential improvement on his second handicap attempt with his ideal trip and going conditions to boot.
Despite her wide-draw, Josephine Gordon will be hoping that BIG COUNTRY turns up in the same form which has seen him rise well -up the handicap this season, winning 3/4 starts.
His only defeat, saw him arguably hit-the-front too soon when going down by 4 lengths to the classy Frontiersman, but otherwise he has cruised through the divisions.
Big Country can continue his progress up just 4lbs for a cosy win last time out, with several winners coming out of that race.
There doesn’t appear to be a lot of pace on, so there is every chance he can be manoeuvred in to a decent early position.
He’s got the class, and is racing off an official rating of 98, which may still be a good few pounds below his future best.
1pt win Big Country @7/1, 0.75pt each-way Carntop @12/1 (4 plcs, 1/4 odds William Hill), 15:15 Haydock, Saturday
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