Can progressive Alrehb complete a hat-trick on his first start on turf?

Saturday: 2.05 Haydock
Great Chevington Handicap | 7f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

The Shevington Handicap has returned some juicy winning SPs in recent years and three of the early outsiders are proven at a much higher level. Sir Dancealot has won four Group 2s, Summer Sands placed in a Group 1 as a juvenile and Oh This Is Us is a Group 3 and multiple Listed winner.

With a mark of 106 and a 634-day break to overcome for a new stable, Sir Dancealot is dismissed. Summer Sands is undoubtedly well-treated off 88 but first-time-out may not be the time to catch him. Turning to the race-fit Oh This Is Us off a mark of 93, his lowest in nearly six years, could be the wise each-way play with four places generally on offer.

Oh This Is Us can never be ruled out and defied the odds to capture a Listed race at odds of 66-1 at Ascot almost a year to the day. The admirable nine-year-old was beaten seven and a quarter lengths in last season’s Spring Cup en route to scoring at Ascot ten days later, and an almost identical seven-and-a-half-length defeat in last Saturday’s Spring Cup bears some symmetry.

Lightning could strike twice over a course and distance in which he has registered a first and second at from two previous outings.

The lowest Racing Post Rating handed to the winner since the race’s inception in 2013 is 101 and three of the top five in the early betting (Alrehb, Silver Samurai and Lovely Breeze) have never hit a three-figure RPR.

Boardman and unexposed five-year-old Alrehb head the betting, but the latter has been campaigned solely on the all-weather. By top US stallion War Front, Alrehb’s suitability to turf is an unknown, although the representatives of Kevin Philippart de Foy garner immediate respect as the trainer strikes at an impressive 24 per cent in Britain this year.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

John Butler, trainer of Sir Dancealot
It’s his first start for us and we were going to run him back in the Listed race at Leicester but the ground was too quick so we’ve opted to reroute here. He’s been off for a while but his work has been good and this will tell us where we go next with him.

Hollie Doyle, rider of Mehmento
We tried him back at six furlongs at Newcastle last time but he didn’t get away with it and he should find seven furlongs going around a bend more his thing. He’s a quick starter and likes to race prominently so hopefully he can get a position early from stall ten.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Oh This Is Us
He’s turned around quickly after running a decent race at Newbury last weekend and he’s a previous course-and-distance winner which should stand him in good stead.

Marco Botti, trainer of Silver Samurai
He’s well drawn and if he puts it all in he would have a good chance but he is a tricky customer. He was only beaten a short-head last time and tends to pull himself up in front but he’s in good shape at home and hopefully can go one better.

Kevin Philippart de Foy, trainer of Alrehb
We are looking forward to getting him on turf as he works well on it at home and this looks like the right race for him. He’s well drawn and will like the drying ground.

Philip Robinson, racing manager to Dr Ali Ridha, owner of Lovely Breeze
Being drawn 12 of 12 isn’t the greatest but I’m sure she’ll run her usual race as she’s a very consistent filly.
Reporting by David Milnes

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