14:45 Haydock

Saturday 23 December 2017

All11:5012:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:20

Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 6m 30.50s

Three Faces West^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 144| C| D

10/3

Proved himself around here when winning on heavy ground over 3m in similar contest last year when 9lb lower. Only seen twice since. Ran well for a long way on reappearance at Cheltenham. Shorter trip here is positive and he looks a leading player.

Form: 21/P11-3

Vic De Touzaine⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: James Bowen⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 139

11/1

Last year's winning trainer does well with these mudlarks and this gelding is another case in point. Stays 3m and returned with a win at Carlisle from 7lb lower in October. Concern, however, that handicapper may have his measure after latest run.

Form: 1/22U-1P

Full Irish²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 137| D

2/1

Scored on heavy in a Leicester novices' hurdle in February and improved for his chase debut when winning by 7L on handicap intro at Lingfield (2m7½f, soft) last time. 8lb rise very fair and this improver should be very competitive.

Form: 4218-41

Broadway Buffalo^p,t⁶⁷²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 137| BF| C

12/1

Has a good record here and on testing ground. Won this race in 2014 when 8lb lower. Has only raced six times since and returns after an absence of 22-months. Previously competitive from this sort of mark, so market check suggested.

Form: 5F2652/

Lake View Lad²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 136| D

11/2

Lightly-raced and well-placed to win 5-12 so far. Acts on heavy and won his first chase at the fourth attempt last time at Newcastle (2m7½f, soft). Up 4lb for that, but still improving and certainly not ruled out here.

Form: 41/26-31

Captain Redbeard¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 135| C

14/1

Appeared to handle heavy two starts ago, though yet to be seen to best effect on it (most wins on good to soft). Well beaten from 2lb higher in Grand Sefton last time and stamina will really be tested over this trip and in these conditions.

Form: 11P2-36

Catamaran Du Seuil^b²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 128

10/1

Mudlark who was gutsy when getting the better of a four-way go at Ayr (3m½f, heavy) two starts ago. Well below that form in this grade over C&D last time and from the same mark he will need to be much better than that today. 2-6 in blinkers.

Form: 10-7214

No Planning¹⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 124| C

10/1

Prolific winner who goes on any ground, has a good record here and sees out 3m½f on heavy. Last eight wins from come from higher marks than this and only beaten ½L from 7lb higher as recently as May. Interesting, certainly from an each-way angle.

Form: 6-268P6

Go West Young Man²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 115

40/1

1-27, that sole success coming on good ground at Kempton (2m5f) over hurdles last year. It has also been much better ground when he has recorded his better chasing performances and he is hard to fancy from 3lb 'wrong' in such a tough race.

Form: 242-47U

Non-Runners

Earthmoves¹⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: P & M Bowen J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Full Irish (2/1), Three Faces West (10/3), Lake View Lad (11/2), Catamaran Du Seuil (10/1), No Planning (10/1), Vic De Touzaine (11/1), Broadway Buffalo (12/1), Captain Redbeard (14/1), Earthmoves (14/1), Go West Young Man (40/1)

Always a competitive contest and one where it could pay to side with the improving and unexposed FULL IRISH, given his proven ability on the ground, over this sort of trip and the fact that he represents the in-form Emma Lavelle team. Three Faces West should be a leading player after a good pipe-opener and this drop back in trip looks positive, while Vic De Touzaine is not totally ruled out after one bad run, but he does have a bit to prove now. If anybody can get one ready to win after a 22-month absence it is David Pipe, so keep an eye on the market regarding the chance of former winner Broadway Buffalo. Catarmaran Du Seuil needs to bounce back after his latest effort, while No Planning is on a very dangerous mark and represents a trainer who has done really well in contests like this here over the years, although surprisingly has not had the winner of this particular race in the past decade.