12:20 Haydock

Sunday 30 December 2018

All12:2012:5513:2514:0014:3015:0515:35

Bryn Gates Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:20 | Winning time: 4m 40.8s

Niceandeasy^b1⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 119

5/2

Dual Hexham winner as a novice started second season with fourth at Ayr and third at Sedgefield. Conditions here no issue so each-way chance and first-time blinkers could boost claims.

Form: 1U25-43

Ruacana^v³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Price⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 119

25/1

Nine races for this yard winless and beaten 26L latest in first start in 13 months. Chance on old form but hard to fancy now.

Form: 2P75/0-5

Cloudy Glen²⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁶⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 115

8/1

Maiden showed signs of getting act together last term before out of sorts most recently. Bred to stay so longer trip here can help and suspect best days lie ahead of him so not ruled out.

Form: 506235-

Culmination²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R D Day| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 115

15/2

March 2017 maiden hurdle winner made a more than pleasing reappearance after 559 days off when a 7L second of 11 at Sedgefield. Could come forward plenty for that and suspect he will be winning handicaps soon enough.

Form: 4421/3-2

Jabulani⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁶⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 115| BF| D

13/2

No impact in two chase races this year but had some fair hurdles form as a novice including beating the smart First Assignment. Considerably lower mark and down in grade from latest handicap hurdles so genuine chance now.

Form: 187P-55

Captain Hox^t⁵⁷⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: A W Short| T: P Griffin| OR: 115

100/1

Useful chaser when last seen but off the track 574 days and not run over hurdles since 2015. Every chance this is a mere pipe-opener after so long off.

Form: 3555/60-

Destined To Shine^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 112| BF

9/2

Hereford winner two starts back couldn't defy a 7lb rise next when odds-on at Ludlow where he was too keen and paid the price late on. Bigger field here may help in that regard and not ruled out by any means.

Form: 604-213

Three Star General^b¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryony Frost| T: D Pipe| OR: 112

9/2

Only won once over hurdles but ran better than bare form suggests latest when a remote third at Uttoxeter given he set a fierce pace upfront. Shorter trip here may help and handicapper keeps assisting so each way chance again.

Form: 23-8033

Passam^t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harrison Beswick⁽³⁾| T: Miss C Dyson| OR: 109

22/1

Lightly raced maiden over hurdles unseated rider early on in reappearance at Uttoxeter. Looked like he would appreciate this longer trip last year so one with some potential to do better.

Form: 85393-U

My Liege¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: S England| OR: 107

25/1

Minor promise for Evan Williams last year but beaten 47L on recent return at Hexham so probably best watched at present.

Form: 13/553-6

Richard Strauss^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Teal⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 99

20/1

Followed flat win with first hurdles success by a nose at Musselburgh. Disappointing latest when upped in trip at Doncaster however beaten 25L so must bounce back and overall others appeal more.

Form: 54-8816

Non-Runners

Saint Freule³⁹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Niceandeasy (5/2), Three Star General (9/2), Destined To Shine (9/2), Saint Freule (6/1), Jabulani (13/2), Culmination (15/2), Cloudy Glen (8/1), Richard Strauss (20/1), Passam (22/1), Ruacana (25/1), My Liege (25/1), Captain Hox (100/1)

JABULANI failed to build on his lone win to date last term over hurdles and this season over fences but his tumbling mark surely now makes him competitive and he is down in class quite dramatically compared to his later hurdle races so he is worth chancing in a tough contest. Saint Freule looked an improved sort latest so rates the biggest danger. Cloudy Glen appeals as one likely to improve this season and he is also shortlisted.