14:00 Haydock

Saturday 13 May 2017

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:2517:55

Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 37.2s

Volnay De Thaix¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 150

8/1

Comes here relatively fresh after having just had three previous runs this year and looks a little unexposed over this trip. Ran well enough in a Grade 2 at Sandown Park last time out and comes from a stable still in cracking form.

Form: 052/5P3-

The Tourard Man¹⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Kevin Dowling⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A King| OR: 145

20/1

Winning staying hurdler and chaser who showed the benefit of a slight ease in grade when winning at Warwick (a course that suits him) last time out. Had been running well all winter in tough handicaps but that win has pushed his mark up again and a place might be the best he can hope for.

Form: 505481-

Whataknight^t³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 145

6/1

Took this race last year off a 7lb lower mark with the trip and the drying ground suiting him well. His chasing campaign was aborted after two starts (one win) he's run respectably and no more in three hurdles starts since. This looks a slightly tougher contest this year than it did last year for him.

Form: 121026-

Runswick Royal³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 142

20/1

Returned to hurdles to take advantage of his lower mark in that sphere he managed to gain a couple of wins at Ayr and Kelso. Handicapper appeared to catch up with him in tougher company last time out at Aintree over 2m4f and that makes him vulnerable here.

Form: F2/P110-

Kelvingrove^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 138

12/1

All the evidence had looked like it pointed to this one being held off a mark of 131 but he finally managed to win of it over C&D last time out. Faces a 7lb rise in the weights now and hard not to think that the rise doesn't give him a tough task here.

Form: 145331-

Guitar Pete³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 137

12/1

Smart sort when trained Ireland and ran a very creditable first race for his new yard back over hurdles (strong in betting) at Wetherby last time out when just touched off at the death. He's still only seven and looks likely to stay this trip and one of the more interesting contenders here.

Form: 090652-

Arctic Gold¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 136

20/1

Tough and hardy sort who has been in good form of late winning off a 3lb lower mark in December at Sandown Park. Third twice in his last two starts over hurdles showing a good attitude each time and one of the likely pace angles here.

Form: PU2033-

Sir Mangan²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

12/1

Back from a long absence last time out he overcame that break to win a Ffos Las handicap holding on well although he was given a real chance by a handicapper (9lb lower than his last start). May well benefit from a return to this trip and looks as though he can take a hand here off a mark that he can still be competitive off.

Form: P2125/1-

Young Dillon^v²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 134

12/1

Previously trained in Ireland he's taken on a new lease of life for these connections winning three times. Headgear looks to be needed now and he ran a very solid race to be second to Kelvingrove last time out over C&D. His mark may well just about sum him now but should run a solid race.

Form: 24472-0

Prime Venture⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130

7/1

His form figures suggest he's been consistency personified and his second to a subsequent Punchestown winner suggest that he can take a hand here. This will be the longest trip that's he tried but he's looked as though he could handle the greater emphasis on stamina and there may well be more to come from him.

Form: 122342-

Oh Land Abloom²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 130

22/1

Will find this much tougher than the race that he ran in at Market Rasen last time out. He's a reliable sort overall but rather summed up by his mark.

Form: 522322-

Big Easy^p²³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130

25/1

Winner of a big Flat handicap (Cesarewitch) in 2014 and has shown some good form over hurdles in staying handicaps.. Last two runs have left a lot to be desired though and best watched here.

Form: 240/P0-3

Driftwood Haze³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Conor Orr⁽⁷⁾| T: P C Dando| OR: 128

25/1

This looks to be tougher than the grade that he usually runs in and his form is rather patchy overall. Off marks such as this the handicapper looks in control and others have more scope for improvement.

Form: 308252-

Mia's Storm¹⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 126

10/1

The form she showed last season flags her up as one of the more improving types in this winning a couple of novice hurdles and looking better than ever taking a handicap last time out. Faces a 5lb rise for that win and faces a longer trip here but if the ground stays on the good side she should enjoy this contest.

Form: P/11591-

San Satiro²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125

9/2

Can hardly to be said to have beaten anything of note but does look one of the more progressive types in the field. Goes up 7lb for beating a subsequent winner last time out and it will be interesting to see if he can overcome his relative inexperience here in what will be his toughest test.

Form: 1/14111-

Luccombe Down^b²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125

14/1

Completed a hat-trick for this yard last summer although that winning spree pushed his handicap mark up to this level. Found life tough from this mark of late though despite running well at Cheltenham last time out.

Form: 1B4564-

Forecasts

San Satiro (9/2), Whataknight (6/1), Prime Venture (7/1), Volnay De Thaix (8/1), Mia's Storm (10/1), Sir Mangan (12/1), Kelvingrove (12/1), Guitar Pete (12/1), Young Dillon (12/1), Luccombe Down (14/1), The Tourard Man (20/1), Arctic Gold (20/1), Runswick Royal (20/1), Oh Land Abloom (22/1), Big Easy (25/1), Driftwood Haze (25/1)

This looks a stronger contest than the one that Whataknight won last year as he’s off a higher mark this time around and faces some progressive rivals here. San Satiro could well be better than she has suggested so far when winning some weak contests and like Mia’s Storm and Sir Mangan looks progressive. Guitar Pete has looked smart in the past and could well improve on his second start for his new yard with the lightly raced Volnay De Thaix also unexposed over this trip. PRIME VENTURE has form that is very hard to fault though with his Sandown second looking even better in the light of the winner’s subsequent form.