12:55 Haydock

Saturday 20 January 2018

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:15

Jockey Club Haydock Park Racing Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 4m 17.20s

Joke Dancer²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 115| CD

4/1

Won a C&D novices' hurdle (heavy) readily last month. Sent off 7-2 for his handicap debut (C&D, heavy) last time, but never really got competitive. Dropped 4lb for that and far from written off from this revised mark. Could go well.

Form: 6-6215

Brynmawr¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 115

13/2

Showed promise in novices' hurdles over further than this without winning one. Trip looks a bit short on pedigree, though initial handicap mark seems fair. Check market for clues but pace may be an issue.

Form: F7422-5

Graystown¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: W Coltherd| OR: 115

25/1

Has posted four respectable efforts in novices/maiden company from 2m-2m4½f, including on heavy. Handicap mark is probably just a little challenging on the evidence of his last run, so will need to find some improvement.

Form: PP-3245

Reverant Cust^t⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: P Atkinson| OR: 110| D

4/1

Scored at Newcastle (2m½f, heavy) in novices' company and was competitive from 3lb higher than today on his next two starts in handicaps. Comfortably held in both runs this season, but couldn't rule him out after slight drop in ratings.

Form: 3133-86

Chozen^h⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 108

6/1

Is making steady gains with each visit to the track and won a novices' handicap hurdle at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) in November from a mark of 104. Held last time but still not a bad effort and 2lb drop plus champion up certainly gives him a squeak.

Form: 2-54316

Atlantic Storm^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 107

16/1

Obliged on his handicap debut at Bangor (2m½f, good to soft) in April by 5L. However, has been unable to handle a few pounds rise in the weights/longer trips since. Now 2lb lower than his winning mark so check market for signs of revival.

Form: 14-6F85

Lord Fendale^h¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 105| D

33/1

Won a Tipperary maiden hurdle (2m, good) in July 2016 and was competitive next time in a handicap from a mark of 111. Has failed to figure in all five starts for this trainer and is on the slide in the handicap. Others preferred.

Form: 2-90U46

Le Frank^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105

10/1

Has produced three similar so far, all hinting at ability, the last two over hurdles where he has proved he handles heavy ground. Handicap mark looks stiff enough, however, on what we have seen and he will need improvement to break his duck.

Form: 3-43

Akula^p⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Alain Cawley| T: B Leavy| OR: 100| D

100/1

Put together back-to-back selling handicap hurdle wins early last year (both at around 2m). Not as effective out of that grade, but from 1lb below his last winning mark you couldn't rule him out of some prize money. Handles heavy.

Form: 73-5U29

Bingo D'Olivate^h⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: D R Fox| T: Gemma Anderson| OR: 99| D

16/1

1-18 to date, that sole success being in a Newbury novices' handicap hurdle (2m½f, soft) almost two years ago. Handicapper well in control since then, but releasing his grip a little in recent months and can't rule him out of the frame today.

Form: 66P733

Western Morning^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: David England| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 99

33/1

Won a maiden point-to-point on debut, but so far he has failed to show much over hurdles. Now makes handicap debut from lowly mark, though on the evidence we have seen, it may still ask too many questions.

Form: 1-079

Hartside^t⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks| OR: 91| D

13/2

Without a win since March 2016 and now 26lb lower than that Wetherby success. Has returned to a bit better form on his last two runs at Catterick and couldn't rule him out of the prize money again today.

Form: 996F34

Forecasts

Joke Dancer (4/1), Reverant Cust (4/1), Chozen (6/1), Hartside (13/2), Brynmawr (13/2), Le Frank (10/1), Atlantic Storm (16/1), Bingo D'Olivate (16/1), Graystown (25/1), Western Morning (33/1), Lord Fendale (33/1), Akula (100/1)

After a handicap sighter last time JOKE DANCER is taken to get back to winning ways after impressing with his novice success last month and proving that he handles this ground. Chozen is still going the right way and is likely to present a danger to the selection, while Atlantic Storm has a bit to prove but may be capable of a revival and the market might be a good guide on that front. Bingo D'ollivate, Akula and Hartside are others who could get involved in the shake-up.