16:15 Haydock

Saturday 20 January 2018

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

Peover Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:16 | Winning time: 6m 22.50s

Shelford⁶²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140| BF

20/1

Yet to win on heavy, though did so on very soft in France. Stays 3m2f and switches back to hurdles today after almost a year exclusively over fences. Yet to win in this sphere in Britain and no easy task today either.

Form: 22-2235

De Vous A Moi²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 130

9/1

Won a Newcastle novices' hurdle over 2m6f (heavy) in February and after a couple of moderate runs he came right back to form in a similar race over C&D (heavy) last time. Up 1lb for that and has claims if he can eek out a bit more.

Form: 9319-73

Southfield Royale²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 129

6/1

Won a Grade 2 novices' chase at Doncaster two seasons ago and finished runner-up in a Grade 1 before losing his way. Bounced right back over C&D last time when a neck ahead of De Vous A Moi and on same terms he too has claims.

Form: 0F0-PP2

Donna's Diamond⁴²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: C Grant| OR: 129| D

20/1

Landed a similar sort of race at Musselburgh (3m2f, good to soft) two years ago and maintained his form that year, but not seen for 14-months now. Acts on heavy and back on handy mark if he is fit enough after his absence.

Form: 1P44/U4-

Tanarpino^p³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 126| BF

11/2

Won three races in the early part of 2016, the best being from 6lb lower than today. Acts on heavy ground and comes here in decent form, though 5lb rise for latest defeat not ideal.

Form: 45-5532

The Hollow Ginge³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125

5/1

Scored on heavy at Newton Abbot (2m5½) in novices' company in October and has twice gone well under a penalty since. Drops 2lb going into his first handicap and he is an interesting runner. Market check advised.

Form: 35-133

Bruichladdich¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: I Jardine| OR: 120

6/1

1-6 so far and that win came on heavy ground at Hexham in March (2m). First run since then was a good effort when 4½L second at Ayr (3m½f, heavy) on his handicap debut earlier in the month. Open to improvement despite 5lb rise and not ruled out.

Form: 87541-2

Apollo Creed⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: R Johnson| T: Evan Williams| OR: 119

9/4

Has made progress with each run and scored when stepped up to 3m (heavy) at Ffos Las in November. That was a novices' hurdle and he now makes his handicap debut from a fair mark. Potential improver and short-listed.

Form: 62-31

Forecasts

Apollo Creed (9/4), The Hollow Ginge (5/1), Tanarpino (11/2), Bruichladdich (6/1), Southfield Royale (6/1), De Vous A Moi (9/1), Donna's Diamond (20/1), Shelford (20/1)

In interesting way to bring the curtain down on the card and it could be worth chancing APOLLO CREED on his handicap debut from what looks to be a very fair mark. An improving hurdler, he acts on the ground and the booking of the champion jockey for the first time is eyecatching. De Vous A Moi finished behind Southfield Royale when both were placed here last month but there was little in it and that could be the case again. Donna's Diamond has the ability but a long lay-off to overcome, while Tanarpino is respected, Bruichladdich is another potential improver and The Hollow Ginge would be very interesting if supported.