Haydock 5:10 Result

Top-rated on OR (86) and the form figures (251-1P) show he's been running well when seeing it out, with a win last time out before a stumble. He's a stayer bred (Study Of Man/Nayef) suited to this 1m6f trip on testing ground, and George Scott's yard can find fitness even after a break - 153 days is a slight concern but the trainer has a knack of placing improving stock well. Weight of 136lbs at top of the handicap reflects genuine class edge over this field, most of whom are rated in the mid-to-low 70s/80s. Evaluation (85 OR) is the obvious market rival but has a moth-eaten recent form line (2050/0) and looks vulnerable back after a similar layoff with an inconsistent record. Shadow Dance's figures are held together by one placed effort in a run of blanks. Trojan Sun is in-form (307363) but capped by a modest 71 rating and will likely find pure class main dangers too strong up in trip. The heavy ground is a leveller but Alther Walden's pedigree (Study Of Man progeny handle cut well, Nayef damsire stamina influence) supports him handling it. I make him narrow best of a moderate, blanket-covered handicap - the setup (headgear added, drop back into a winnable-look Class 4 after time off) suggests the yard fancies this. Not overwhelming confidence given the layoff, but he looks the classiest and most solid than others at a fair price.