15:15 Haydock

Saturday 20 April 2019

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2016:55

Betway Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 5m 52.9s

Boreham Bill²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 131

16/1

Form patchy, to say the least, but capable on his day and might have gone close at Uttoxeter two starts back but for a final-flight blunder. Still looks handicapped to the hilt though, and others preferred.

Form: 9-42436

Trixster⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 129| D

5/1

Been in good form this season with some bold displays from the front, and lost little in defeat when sixth at Sandown in a hot handicap last time out. Acts on all ground and should show up for a long way once more.

Form: 121127

Court Liability^p1⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 129| BF| D

6/1

Winner of three of his five hurdles starts and these conditions fine, but now has a bit to prove after two below par displays and he never travelled at all at Doncaster last time. Cheekpieces now given a try. Risky at present.

Form: 111-14P

Skidoosh⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 128| BF| D

6/1

Ready winner at Doncaster at February but a bit disappointing he couldn't do better when made favourite at Newbury latest. This better ground may help but yard really struggling for form at present, which is a major concern.

Form: 132210

Diamond Fort^p1³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 126

9/1

Almost got there at Uttoxeter two starts ago and soft ground a possible excuse when well below that form at Wetherby last time. Cheekpieces on today and if returning to earlier form, isn't out of this.

Form: P9-9425

Django Django⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 126| BF| D

11/2

Looked like he was in for a good season when a ready winner at Chepstow in November but disappointed on next start and not seen since January. Bit to prove after that and this ground possibly quick enough for him too.

Form: 409-517

No Hiding Place^p⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 126| D

18/1

Looked useful when quickening clear to win at Kempton in November, and good ground clearly suits him best, but two below par efforts since then raise questions about his well being here. Capable but risky.

Form: 232146

Lygon Rock^p⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 125| BF

11/2

Looks ready for another crack at this sort of trip, having looked short of pace over slightly shorter a couple of times this season. Needs to put a poor one at Hereford last time behind him but hard to rule out completely here.

Form: 128535

Creep Desbois^p⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 123

14/1

On a good mark these days but that's mainly down to the fact he's not progressing and despite finishing second at Southwell last time, wasn't in the same street as the winner. Yard out of form too, so others readily preferred.

Form: 26-U472

Faithful Mount^p²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams| OR: 114| C

12/1

Back to form when trying to make all at Market Rasen last time out, stayed on well once caught and went down fighting. Conditions fine once more and not hard to see another good show from the front.

Form: 6/58F22

Sunnytahliateigan¹¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 109| BF

10/1

Have to go back a couple of years to find the last time he won one, conditions fine here but not getting much help from the handicapper and may need this run after a break. Others preferred.

Form: 627-338

Non-Runners

Sliding Doors²⁹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: Ian Williams J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Trixster (5/1), Django Django (11/2), Lygon Rock (11/2), Skidoosh (6/1), Court Liability (6/1), Diamond Fort (9/1), Sunnytahliateigan (10/1), Faithful Mount (12/1), Creep Desbois (14/1), Sliding Doors (14/1), Boreham Bill (16/1), No Hiding Place (18/1)

Trixster might well get his own may out in front here, and will be tough to pass if allowed his own way. He's had a long season, but is keeping his form well, and is not to be dismissed. Faithful Mount will be happy to take a lead off him and could get in the frame, with conditions to suit him once more, but the vote goes to DIAMOND FORT, who will appreciate this return to better ground and the cheekpieces to help him concentrate.