17:25 Haydock

Saturday 11 May 2019

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

Pertemps Network Intermediate Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:25 | Winning time: 5m 10.9s

Brave Eagle^p²¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| D

9/2

Won his first two over fences, at Worcester (2m7f, good) and Fontwell (2m5½f, good) last summer, and ran well on handicap debut when last seen at Chepstow in October. Drop in trip no concern for this reappearance and has won fresh. Claims.

Form: 112113-

Huntsman Son^t⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 139| D

9/2

1-5 since switching to chasing, having scored over a similar trip at Newbury in novices' company in March. 33-1 and well held in the Close Brothers last time. Drops 1lb, but more needed.

Form: 4/26219-

Diable De Sivola¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: L P Aspell| T: Nick Williams| OR: 136

9/2

Without a win since his debut in 2016, but placed in the last four of his six chases to date. Beaten 2L from this mark at Sandown last time and should be capable of going very close again.

Form: 453223-

Aintree My Dream^h,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 136| D

14/1

Showed ability both as a hurdler and chaser for Dan Skelton but couldn't win in the latter discipline for him. Got off the mark at first time of asking on joining this yard, at Stratford last time. Trip/ground suit and not ruled out from 4lb higher.

Form: 3/62FP1-

Tanarpino^v²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 133| D

9/1

Scored at Hexham (3m, good) in novices' company last June, and added a Uttoxeter novices' handicap (2m4f, good; first-time visor) to that in March. Held from this 8lb higher mark last time, however, so has a bit to prove.

Form: 124415-

Wilde Blue Yonder⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 133

6/1

Hasn't won since 2013, but has shown that he retains ability already this year, and was not beaten far over C&D (good) in February. Another good effort over further last time, and entitled to frame claims again now back at this distance.

Form: 4F/F624-

Copper West²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 127| C

5/1

Arrives in good form after wins at Leicester in December (2m4f, good to firm) and here over C&D (good) last month, when 4½L to the good. Up 10lb for that, which looks a tough call, so further improvement needed.

Form: 242411-

Cap Du Nord^p⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Bowen| T: Christian Williams| OR: 127| D

7/1

Improving chaser who has won his last three, two at Sedgefield and the latest of them readily at Fakenham (all 2m5f, good or good to soft) by 4L. Up a total of 22lbs, so handicapper now asking tougher questions, and more needed.

Form: 242111-

Forecasts

Brave Eagle (9/2), Huntsman Son (9/2), Diable De Sivola (9/2), Copper West (5/1), Wilde Blue Yonder (6/1), Cap Du Nord (7/1), Tanarpino (9/1), Aintree My Dream (14/1)

An interesting race, where Diable De Sivola would not be winning out of turn, but his record is slightly offputting. That is not the case with BRAVE EAGLE, who has plenty in his favour, including further potential for improvement, and he is the suggestion. Wilde Blue Yonder and Aintree My Dream should both be involved, while neither Copper West nor Cap Du Nord is written off, but need to pull out a fair bit more.