14:00 Haydock

Saturday 11 May 2019

All14:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:5517:2517:55

Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 33.1s

Whisper⁵⁰¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 163

10/1

Top class stayer over both hurdles and fences, who was second in 2017 Ladbrokes Trophy. Acts on good or softer. Likely to be primed and ready on his first run since Boxing Day 2017, and should give a very good account.

Form: 122125/

Double Treasure^t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 140

17/2

Grade 2 second, who was well placed to win three of his six starts last season. Easily won in a small field under a penalty last time. Handicapper has not put him up for that on this return to handicapping and he has claims.

Form: 112P21-

Wait For Me^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 140| BF

5/1

Yet to win beyond 2m4f, but was beaten just 5L over 3m1f this time last year from today's mark, so should see out this trip well enough. More needed, but an each-way player.

Form: 073U32-

Serosevsky^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry| OR: 137

7/2

Point winner a couple of years ago, and returns to a similar sort of trip for the first time since then. Returned from a break to win at Wincanton (2m5½f, good) last time, when front pair 9L clear. Up 10lb and in better company, but not ruled out.

Form: 2123P1-

Canyon City³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| OR: 136| D

15/2

Won three times last season at up to 2m7f, on good or fast ground. Not disgraced in Aintree Grade 3 when last seen, but out of the handicap here and looks unlikely to have quite enough class.

Form: 220316-

Limited Reserve⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: James Bowen| T: Christian Williams| OR: 134| C

16/1

Goes well here, having won two heavy-ground 2m3f handicaps in late 2017, the latter from a mark of 133. Off the track from then until an AW run at Southwell in March. Likely to stay, acts on good, and interesting despite being 3lb 'wrong'.

Form: 524211/

Ocean Cove^p⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 133

6/1

Thorough stayer whose two wins have been in the spring, the most recent at Warwick (soft; first-time cheekpieces) in March, when front pair were 13L clear. Up 11lb for that, and in better company, but improving and respected.

Form: 21/9331-

William Of Orange^p,t¹⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 132| C

40/1

5lb higher than his last win, which came at Cartmel last summer, and his more recent efforts give him plenty to do here from 5lb 'wrong'.

Form: 615548-

No Hassle Hoff²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 132| D

10/3

Stays well and won't mind any more. Up 5lb for a good effort after wind surgery at Cheltenham last time (2m4½f, good), but remains 5lb 'wrong' here. Claimer up to negate that, and not ruled out for trainer with good record in big handicaps.

Form: 0/42U92-

Forecasts

No Hassle Hoff (10/3), Serosevsky (7/2), Wait For Me (5/1), Ocean Cove (6/1), Canyon City (15/2), Double Treasure (17/2), Whisper (10/1), Limited Reserve (16/1), William Of Orange (40/1)

No Hassle Hoff is another potential Dan Skelton winner in a valuable handicap, despite being 5lb 'wrong', but like several of these he may struggle to cope with the quaility of WHISPER, who is the suggestion. The presence of Nicky Henderson's high-class stayer puts over half of this field out of the handicap, which has to be a concern if you are supporting them. His trainer has a very good long-term record of producing winners after a layoff, so his lack of a recent run is no big deal. Of those 'wrong' at the weights, Limited Reserve and Ocean Cove both look capable of going well, while Serosevsky and Double Treasure both have claims.