14:25 Haydock

Saturday 23 November 2019

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:40

Betfair Best Odds On ITV Races Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 1.2s

Sykes²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 147| CD

33/1

Grand campaigner that tries hard and runs his race more often that not; won a valuable C&D handicap here in February, handles most ground and ran to form when third at Cheltenham latest; probably better handicapped in the race but will give it a go.

Form: 00/21P-3

Umbrigado²³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 142WS

7/1

Unexposed winner of a maiden and novice hurdle last year before being thrown in the deep end in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices at Aintree, running very well; handles all ground and quite possible this trip will suit, and if it does, he's got chances.

Form: 2/1116-

Lisnagar Oscar²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 141| BF| CD

9/1

Reverts to hurdles after a fairly miserable time of it over fences (twice beaten atshort odds); had rounded off last year with an excellent third to Champ in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices at Aintree and had looked progressive; could get back on track.

Form: 1153-23

Eight And Bob⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 140| D

12/1

Showed improved form when stepped back up to 3m at Gowran Park last time, battling on well for pressure to win a neck; 13lb hike in the weights for a relatively exposed handicapper means he needs more, but from this yard, nothing is discounted.

Form: 2110-P1

Flash The Steel^t⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

12/1

Improving hurdler that took the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on his reappearance this season with a bit left in the tank, and that form franked since; 8lb rise is fair, but this trip will ask new questions of him. Solid chance if he stays.

Form: 41215-1

Stoney Mountain²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 138

16/1

Future chaser that did well to cope with the drop back in trip to score at Aintree last time out, as his efforts last year made him look a thorough stayer; 4lb higher here but step back up in trip sure to suit and he has potential to do better.

Form: 2123P-1

Diomede Des Mottes^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: William Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| BF| D

16/1

Improving 6yo that had race fitness on his side when second to Skandiburg at Aintree last time, and a 6lb rise for that defeat looks enough despite the front pair pulling clear; young rider takes that off though, so not discounted if finding more.

Form: 301-142

Mega Yeats²⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 134| D

33/1

Improving mare for much of last year, made hard work of landing the odds final start but better judged on her third over shorter here in February where she looked like a stayer in the making; tough race for reappearance this year but not ruled out.

Form: 112131-

Potters Corner^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Christian Williams| OR: 134

50/1

Midlands Grand National winner last year, and this trip a bare minimum for him now, especially over hurdles; pulled up on Aintree reappearance and likely to need this as well before going back over fences.

Form: 1FF1-5P

Ask Ben²⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 133| D

10/1

Improved throughout much of last year and lost little in defeat when tacking Grade 1 company in the Albert Bartlett on final start; starts this year unexposed and has potential for better, but possible he'll be better for the run after a break.

Form: 2/1V120-

Echiquier⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133

20/1

Dotted up in a moderate Hexham novice hurdle on first start for the yard and then probably didn't appreciate the drop back in trip when fifth to Thyme Hill at Chepstow a week after; back to 3m here, unexposed and must be taken seriously.

Form: 5F52-15

Breaking Waves²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Bryony Frost| T: Noel Williams| OR: 131| BF

15/2

Improved mare last year, showed a good attitude to score at Huntingdon in February and looks ready for a crack at 3m on her staying-on fourth over 21f at Cheltenham last time out; yard flying and she looks a big player if coming on for that run.

Form: 33614-4

Highland Hunter²⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| D

9/1

Winner of his first two starts last year and lost nothing in defeat in two starts after that, close third in a handicap and them possibly a little out of his depth in a Grade 2, both at Haydock; remains unexposed and another to consider.

Form: 10/1135-

Liosduin Bhearna²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 131

25/1

Progressed nicely last year and rounded it off with victory at Chepstow; handicapper took action and he started the season 12lb higher, finishing well down the field at Cheltenham, so needs to leave that form well behind. Others preferred.

Form: 32211-0

Tedham²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130| BF

5/1

Looked to have tons in hand when scoring at Wincanton last year, travellled well and had stayed on nicely to score; looks ready for a step up in trip based on his Cheltenham reappearance last month and he could easily improve again.

Form: 43217-6

Sirobbie³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 129

20/1

Keeps on defying the handicapper, scoring again at his beloved Uttoxeter last month and now gets another 9lb to carry; question is whether he can do it away from his favourite track with more weight, and yard gone a little quiet this week.

Form: 4-11211

Acey Milan^p1,t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 128| BF

7/1

Looked to have all the potential in the world on his bumper form (fourth in the 2018 Champion Bumper) but it's just not really happened for him, and was beaten again on reappearance despite being well backed; just too many questions to answer now.

Form: 2513-82

Forecasts

Tedham (5/1), Acey Milan (7/1), Umbrigado (7/1), Breaking Waves (15/2), Highland Hunter (9/1), Lisnagar Oscar (9/1), Ask Ben (10/1), Flash The Steel (12/1), Eight And Bob (12/1), Stoney Mountain (16/1), Diomede Des Mottes (16/1), Echiquier (20/1), Sirobbie (20/1), Liosduin Bhearna (25/1), Mega Yeats (33/1), Sykes (33/1), Potters Corner (50/1)

Ultra-competitive with any number of these open to improvement now they step up to three miles. Tedham looks top of that list and the way he took apart what looked a good race at Wincanton last year is still fresh in the memory. He should go close, but slight preference is for BREAKING WAVES, who has given the impression more than once that he will benefit from a longer trip. With his yard in sparkling form, this looks a suitable opportunity and he can score. Take your pick from Highland Hunter, Echiquier, Ask Ben and Irish raider Eight And Bob for the minor money.