We've teamed up with Weatherbys to look at some of the stats that you'll need to know ahead of Saturday's valuable handicap hurdle at Haydock.
TRENDS
10/10- Started 12-1 or less
8/10- 7 or less starts over hurdles (all 10 had won no more than 4 hurdle races)
8/10- Aged 5 or 6
8/10- Carried 10-13 or more
7/10- Rated between 136 and 143
6/10- First start beyond 2m5f
BETTRENDS SELECTION: Captain Cattistock
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: Sam Spinner
Last week’s Cheltenham winner First Assignment is greatly respected, but CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK has a similar profile to several recent winners from this and hails from the Silver Trophy at Chepstow, a race in which two of the last four winners contested.
Paul Nicholls’ five-year-old is lightly-raced and steps up in trip for this first time on Saturday. Any rain would enhance his chance.
First Assignment is on a sharp upward curve and bids to replicate Grands Crus, who won this race (when it was the Fixed Brush Hurdle) on the back of a win at Cheltenham’s November meeting.
The other to complete the short-list is top-weight Paisley Park, who won impressively at Aintree on his reappearance and remains unexposed. He is rated slightly higher than your average winner of this, however.
Bettrends verdict:
1. CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK
2. First Assignment
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