Tipping / Timeform / 03 September 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet View Market

Ten line up for this nine furlong handicap...

Ezdeyaad has been better than ever this year, gaining four wins, three of them at Haydock. He has been well below par on his last two starts, though, and has yet to prove he conclusively stays this far.

Smarty Socks has twice been successful in 7f handicaps this term, recording a personal best at Doncaster last month. He was fifth off this mark at Ripon earlier in the week, and put up a good effort on his only previous try at 9f in 2007.

Good Again won three times over 1m in 2009. She has been back on the top of her game of late, running as well as could be expected with cheekpieces in a listed event at Bath last month. She's no forlorn hope back in a handicap now.

Changing The Guard's season has not quite gone as expected after a productive 2009. He took a step in the right direction when runner up over 1¼m at Goodwood in July, but has questions to answer again following a tame effort since.

Dhaular Dhar is a hold-up performer on a long losing run. It's too soon to give up hope after he showed he retained a chunk of ability on return from a 3½ month break recently, but he's almost certainly better over shorter.

Fox Hunt made an impressive start, showing a good turn of foot to stretch clear of a couple of subsequent winners in a 1¼m Windsor maiden last month. He's a useful prospect who looks sure to make his mark in handicaps.

Faithful Ruler was successful twice at up to 8.6f last season. He has produced good efforts on both of his comeback starts recently, still having running left in him when a close-up third at Ripon last month and likely to figure once more.

Jonny Lesters Hair is a prominent racer who is thriving at present, digging deep to force a dead heat over 1¼m at Beverley last month. Another lifetime best is required for him to land this from 3 lb higher, though.

Ahlawy has been as good as ever this term, quickening up well to register his second win of the year at Epsom last month. He looks sure to give it his best shot again, but this is more competitive than he is used to.

Templetuohy Max was resurgent earlier in year, winning at Carlisle and Ayr and finishing a good second at Ripon in June. He has barely beaten a rival in two starts since, though, and a short break needs to have revived him.

Timeform 1-2-3:
1. Fox Hunt 2. Faithful Ruler 3. Smarty Socks

Timeform View:
Fox Hunt's impressive debut win looks a lot better now than it did at the time and he is fancied to make a winning start to his handicapping career. Faithful Ruler looks to have better prospects than his stable companion Changing The Guard, despite jockey bookings suggesting otherwise and he rates the main threat, alongside Smarty Socks.

Tags: Faithful Ruler, Fox Hunt, Musselburgh, Smarty Socks, Timeform