16:25 Haydock

Saturday 31 March 2018

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Smarkets Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 5m 59.20s

Red Rising⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142

13/2

Point-to-point winner and has looked a progressive individual under rules winning three of his five starts including on heavy ground at Wetherby over 3m last time out. Likely to run well once more.

Form: 1/1-3121

Nautical Nitwit²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 135

28/1

Placed over hurdles at Doncaster (good-to-soft) in February and winner of a jumpers bumper at Newcastle subsequently. Yard are in good form (4/20) at present.

Form: 368231

Planet Nine³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 135

25/1

Bidding to complete a hat-trick following victories at Catterick and Newcastle (2m6f, heavy). Races off a mark 20lb higher than for his Catterick handicap success last month.

Form: 1-45311

Clondaw Native^p1⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: S Edmunds| OR: 134

7/1

Maiden hurdle winner on soft ground at Ascot in December and ran well when finishing just behind Nautical Nitwit at Doncaster on handicap debut last time.

Form: 1-43213

Classic Ben^p1³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 134

8/1

Dual novice hurdle winner and made a pleasing handicap debut when finishing runner-up at Doncaster (good-to-soft) last time out. Wears cheekpieces for the first time today.

Form: 221172

Head To The Stars²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: A Thornton| T: H D Daly| OR: 130

10/1

Wincanton handicap hurdle winner on heavy ground over an extended 2m5f in January and placed twice since including over 2m7f at Market Rasen (soft) last time. Interesting runner today.

Form: 4-65122

Zeroeshadesofgrey^b³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King| OR: 130

20/1

Placed twice on heavy ground in January and had wind surgery since. Fair fourth over an inadequate distance last time out and likely to perform better with this greater emphasis on stamina.

Form: P-56324

Bryden Boy^p⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 130| D

22/1

Returned to form when finishing 7L second at Wetherby (3m, heavy) early last month and represents a stable with a 38% strike-rate (3/8) in recent weeks.

Form: 15-5442

Malapie²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 127| D

12/1

Successful twice this season most recently on heavy ground at Leicester when seeing off Head To the Stars. Worth a check in the market having finished third last time.

Form: 418183

Southfield Royale^t1⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125

20/1

Disappointing in two starts since finishing runner-up over C&D on heavy ground in December. Wears a tongue tie for the first time today.

Form: 0-PP246

Culture De Sivola⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: Nick Williams| OR: 125

16/1

Winner of four of her 15 starts including on soft ground at Taunton (3m) last time out. Raised 7lb for that effort and has a useful jockey booked to ride today.

Form: 29-1731

Aaron Lad²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 124| D

7/1

Winner on soft ground the last twice most recently when tackling this trip for the first time at Market Rasen earlier this month. One to note despite a 5lb rise in the weights.

Form: P32211

Early Retirement^p1³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey| OR: 122

20/1

Made a winning reappearance on good ground at Southwell in October and placed at Wetherby the following month. Well held on his return from a break last month and cheekpieces are applied today.

Form: 281-125

Fingerontheswitch^p,t⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120| D

9/1

Placed on soft and heavy ground this season but finished a well beaten fourth at Doncaster last time out and more is needed if he's to take this contest.

Form: P26254

Hatchet Jack⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 120| BF

13/2

Maiden after six starts and placed in handicaps the last twice including on soft ground at Ascot last month. However likely to find this race tough going.

Form: 734523

Non-Runners

Tara View¹¹⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: A King J: Wayne Hutchinson

Forecasts

Hatchet Jack (13/2), Red Rising (13/2), Clondaw Native (7/1), Aaron Lad (7/1), Classic Ben (8/1), Fingerontheswitch (9/1), Head To The Stars (10/1), Malapie (12/1), Tara View (14/1), Culture De Sivola (16/1), Zeroeshadesofgrey (20/1), Southfield Royale (20/1), Early Retirement (20/1), Bryden Boy (22/1), Planet Nine (25/1), Nautical Nitwit (28/1)

AARON LAD can complete a hat-trick in this competitive looking handicap hurdle. Richard Newland's charge has looked an improved performer of late and having had just the one start over this trip he remains open to improvement. Top weight Red Rising would appreciate any overnight rain and he can finish runner-up on this occasion while Bryden Boy represents a yard going well at present and he can finish third.