13:50 Haydock

Saturday 24 November 2018

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 4m 27.80s

Cyrus Darius²²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 148WS

4/1

Had a 50% career strike rate for Malcolm and Ruth Jefferson. Has won on good, but best form on heavy. Goes well at around this trip. Has had wind surgery since held at Aintree in April. Should give a good account on stable debut.

Form: 9/14315-

John Constable^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 148| C

33/1

Won the Grade 3 Swinton Hurdle (1m7½f, good) here last year, and followed up in Listed company at Market Rasen. Significantly below that level on his last four starts, so has a bit to prove.

Form: 9-75306

Ch'tibello²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 147| C

14/1

Former Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle winner, whose peak efforts came almost two years ago in defeat. Has won around here and went close in the Champion Hurdle Trial in January, but has a bit to prove on good and over this trip.

Form: 2280-56

Chti Balko²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 144| C

17/2

Dual 2m winner here on heavy. Showed he acts on good when not far off that form as a 2L second at Ayr on his recent reappearance. Up another 2lb, but short-listed.

Form: 15392-2

Cliffs Of Dover⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| C

4/1

Won easily around here on the Flat (2m, good to firm) in August. Has an excellent strike rate of 6-8 over hurdles, mainly on good, though was pulled up on his only run since his juvenile days. Respected.

Form: 11111/P-

Mr Antolini²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 138

5/1

Won the Imperial Cup in March (2m, soft), when 8lb lower. Acts on good and will probably be better for his recent reappearance. May still be more to come from this mark. Claims.

Form: 31212-5

Garo De Juilley^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 138| D

10/1

Produced a career-best when scoring at Chepstow (2m3½f, good) last time, springing a 25-1 surprise. Up 4lb for that, so more needed, but very much an each-way player.

Form: 3F-2241

Black Mischief^p,t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: H Fry| OR: 136

6/1

Wide-margin Warwick maiden hurdle winner last year. Took a while to better than, but did so in a Kempton handicap (2m5f, good) in April. Improved again when a possible winner until falling last time. Claims granted a clear round.

Form: 55331-F

Admiral Barratry³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 133| BF

8/1

Lightly-raced and second in 3-5 hurdles runs so far. Not at his best on reappearance at Kempton last time, but previous run at Newbury suggested he is better than that. Interesting from this mark on handicap debut and could go very well.

Form: 2U/52-2

Sakhee's City^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 132| D

66/1

All three of his wins have been on softer ground than this. 3lb higher than the best of them here. Gets this trip, but concerns over his ability on this ground at this level.

Form: 15401-6

Magic Dancer^p,t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 128

11/1

Most recent win came over 2m1f (good) at Cheltenham in April, when 4lb lower, in a 0-140. Beaten both starts since from this mark, but each-way player if back at his best.

Form: 1781-26

Forecasts

Cyrus Darius (4/1), Cliffs Of Dover (4/1), Mr Antolini (5/1), Black Mischief (6/1), Admiral Barratry (8/1), Chti Balko (17/2), Garo De Juilley (10/1), Magic Dancer (11/1), Ch'tibello (14/1), John Constable (33/1), Sakhee's City (66/1)

Cyrus Darius has the class to get heavily involved from this mark, though the ground has to be a slight concern, in terms of whether it allows him to produce his best. Chti Balko enters calculations at a track that he goes well at, while Cliffs Of Dover is another case in point and will be keeping on when others cry enough. Garo De Juilley and Admiral Barratry both merit respect, but preference is for BLACK MISCHIEF, who fell when challenging last time in a race that has worked out well enough, and he can atone.