16:10 Haydock

Saturday 16 February 2019

All12:5013:2513:5514:2514:5515:3516:1016:45

Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 16:12 | Winning time: 6m 7.90s

Rockpoint³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 136| D

13/2

Grade 2 winner at Cheltenham (3m, good to soft) in December beating today's rival Lisnagar Oscar by just under 3L; penalised and folded quickly when finishing fourth in the Leamington Novices' Hurdle (2m5f) at Warwick last month.

Form: 7-20214

Ask Ben²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 132| D

11/1

Progressive; sprung a 50/1 surprise when winning the French Furze at Newcastle in December (form franked since); open to further improvement over 3m (Ayr winner); one to keep firmly on your side.

Form: 52-1V1

Admiral Barratry²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham| OR: 131

14/1

Asserted on the flat when breaking his duck at Huntingdon on Boxing Day (2m3f+, soft) before finding the exciting Downtown Getaway far stronger at Ascot latest; possible stamina question marks over 3m.

Form: 52-2614

Geordie B⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 133

10/1

Beaten a short-head by today's rival Star of Lanka on his penultimate start (2m3f+ Hereford) before ploughing through the mud to score by 4L from Samburu Shujaa when upped in trip (2m7f) at Lingfield; respected in a tougher race.

Form: 1-621

Highland Hunter²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 131| D

11/1

Relishes some cut underfoot and is a novice on an upward curve (2-3 over hurdles); caught a shade too far back on handicap debut over C&D last month before staying on well to finish third to Closing Ceremony; a fraction more is required.

Form: 110-113

Kateson⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: T Lacey| OR: 141

11/4

Classy bumper winner who is improving steadily with each and every racecourse appearance over hurdles (now 2-3); fine effort when beaten in excess of 3L by Champ in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury (gd/sft); first start over this 3m trip.

Form: 722-113

Lisnagar Oscar²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 133| D

15/2

Couldn't reel in today's rival Rockpoint in a Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham in December (beaten 2¾L) but has justified favouritism in game style in a fair race at Chepstow (2m3f+) since; still open to further improvement.

Form: 1-3221

Star Of Lanka³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 130

11/1

Picked up for £40,000 in May 2018; already a dual hurdles scorer for new connections; saw off today's rival Geordie B by a short-head on the second occasion (2m3f+ Hereford) and far from disgraced on handicap debut in the Lanzarote (Listed) since.

Form: 33-4114

Stoney Mountain³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 136

9/2

Well placed in bumpers and boasts an overall strike-rate of 50% (4-8) with his form figures over timber reading 1,2,1,2; finished a couple of places and 6L in front of Rockpoint when runner-up to Beakstown at Warwick (2m5f, good) last month.

Form: 01-1212

Truckin Away²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133

11/1

Fell at the first when well supported in the 2m4f Grade 2 Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown in December (heavy) and has filled the minor places behind today's rival Lisnagar Oscar at Chepstow since; today's longer trip is potentially favourable.

Form: 3-1F3

Forecasts

Kateson (11/4), Stoney Mountain (9/2), Rockpoint (13/2), Lisnagar Oscar (15/2), Geordie B (10/1), Ask Ben (11/1), Star Of Lanka (11/1), Highland Hunter (11/1), Truckin Away (11/1), Admiral Barratry (14/1)

An intriguing race in prospect with a whole host of promising novices in the line-up, some of whom are tackling this 3m trip for the very first time. Kateson is the obvious starting point and is continuing to progress over hurdles with his close-up third to Champ in the Challow at Newbury the standout piece of form on offer. However, the likes of Lisnagar Oscar and the soft-ground proven Geordie B could prove better suited by such a test of stamina and the very likeable ASK BEN is overlooked at your peril. He sprung a surprise when winning the French Furze at Newcastle in December (form franked by Beakstown) and sports few obvious flaws over this longer trip.