11:50 Haydock

Saturday 22 December 2018

All11:5012:2513:0013:3514:0514:4015:15

getsbk.com The Superprice Sportsbook Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 11:50 | Winning time: 3m 57.10s

Aristo Du Plessis¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-3| J: Bruce Lynn⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 137| D

6/1

Grand servant for connections, winning nine of his 22 starts over hurdles. Back to form when scoring at Wetherby last time, but has 5lb rise and softer ground to cope with.

Form: P/11-5P1

Keyboard Gangster^t²⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Callum Whillans⁽³⁾| T: D W Whillans| OR: 136| D

14/1

Second of two wins over hurdles came on heavy ground at Kelso in April. Up 6lb and not seen since, so this looks a stern test.

Form: 86/4131-

Cornerstone Lad^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Billy Garritty⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 132| D

11/4

Second to Aristo Du Plessis at Wetherby earlier this month and is 2lb better off. Acts on deep ground so any more rain would not be a concern.

Form: 12223-2

Dragonhov⁵⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 130

40/1

Won one of his three starts over hurdles in France, showing a fair level of ability. Hard to know how well handicapped he is on his British/stable debut, so well worth noting in the betting.

Form: 5/12-

Mischievious Max³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: C R King| T: H Bethell| OR: 127| D

20/1

Won a Downpatrick maiden hurdle for Joseph O'Brien, but two starts for current handler have been disappointing. Still time for him to do better off falling handicap mark.

Form: 2099-08

Fin And Game²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 124| D

11/2

Looked a nice prospect when winning two of his three starts in novice hurdles, but two runs over fences have not matched that form. Interesting back over timber in handicap company.

Form: 1114-65

Justatenner^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 123| BF| D

10/1

Hold-up performer who has been running with great credit in handicaps over further. This looks to be on the sharp side and handicap mark is high enough, but he remains in good heart.

Form: 211324

McGowan's Pass¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Rachel McDonald⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Thomson| OR: 119| BF| D

4/1

Favourite when unseating at the first in the Wetherby race won by Aristo Du Plessis. Chance to make amends off the same mark on ground he can handle.

Form: 51534-U

Speed Company^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 118

5/1

Has finished runner-up on the Flat and over hurdles since joining current trainer from John Quinn. Unexposed over timber and shrewd stable is always to be respected.

Form: 46-2

Forecasts

Cornerstone Lad (11/4), McGowan's Pass (4/1), Speed Company (5/1), Fin And Game (11/2), Aristo Du Plessis (6/1), Justatenner (10/1), Keyboard Gangster (14/1), Mischievious Max (20/1), Dragonhov (40/1)

Those at the top of the handicap look weighted to the hilt, especially in what are likely to be testing conditions, so it may pay to take a chance with FIN AND GAME, who has been unable to translate his promising hurdling form to fences but returns to timber on a fair mark and represents last year's winning stable. French import Dragonhov is hard to assess and is worth noting in the betting, along with the unexposed Speed Company and Mcgowan's Pass.