16:55 Haydock

Wednesday 20 March 2019

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2016:5517:25

Old Boston Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:56 | Winning time: 5m 57.6s

Flemens Story^t1⁸¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 111

15/2

Irish point winner (soft) who has shown some promise over hurdles. Backward step when well held over a similar trip at Kelso last time. Initial mark looks feasible, tongue-tie added, and could go well.

Form: 41/43-25

Always Tipsy⁷³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| OR: 109

20/1

Scored over a similar trip at Kelso (heavy) last April, when 4lb lower. Well held in all starts since, including point-to-points. Looks best watched until showing signs of revival.

Form: P1-648P

Leskinfere^p⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: David England| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 107

11/4

Not had a great time of things over fences on his last two starts, so reverts to this sphere. Has dropped to a handy mark, gets this trip and handles conditions, so revival not ruled out, but does need one.

Form: 437-57P

Top Billing⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: N G Richards| OR: 107| D

6/1

Won a class 2 event at Carlisle (3m, heavy) in December, when 9lb lower. Well held from similar marks to this since, so arrives with plenty to prove.

Form: 340170

Morning Royalty²³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: Callum Bewley| T: James Moffatt| OR: 105

9/1

Well treated on his form of 2017. On a lengthy losing run since, acts on soft ground and took a small step in the right direction again last time. More needed, but not ruled out of the prizes.

Form: 557PU6

Breizh Alko²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Menzies| OR: 105

9/2

Debut hurdles winner in France in 2015, but has only made the racecourse twice since. Not devoid of ability still by the look of his Ayr reappearance/stable debut last month, so check the market for clues this time.

Form: 26/6

Hear The Chimes²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S A Harris| OR: 104

5/2

Dual winner this season, both on good, including last time out at Huntingdon. Up 6lb for that, but score for him to find a little more, so not ruled out again. Acts on soft.

Form: 489141

Non-Runners

Dulce Panem¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: R Menzies J: Nathan Moscrop

Forecasts

Hear The Chimes (5/2), Leskinfere (11/4), Breizh Alko (9/2), Dulce Panem (5/1), Top Billing (6/1), Flemens Story (15/2), Morning Royalty (9/1), Always Tipsy (20/1)

This doesn't look the most competitive race on paper and it may be that Donald McCain has found a good opportunity for FLEMENS STORY to win on his handicap debut, from a mark that looks within his compass. Leskinfere would be interesting if he could bounce back, while a market check looks prudent regarding Breizh Alko. Stablemate Dulce Panem has frame claims, along with Morning Royalty.