15:40 Haydock

Saturday 23 November 2019

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

Better Value On The Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 7m 45.80s

Station Master^p³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 133

16/1

Novice chase winner back in March but in truth, not really gone on from that and has found life hard on his last two starts; remains capable of better, but not getting a lot of help off the handicapper and may be best watched at present.

Form: P122-95

Late Romantic^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 130

10/1

Looked a thorough stayer when taking a Wetherby handicap (3m) on his latest start, a run that was his best for a while; 8lb rise demands more but will handle any further rain, is in good heart, jumps well and no reason for him not to run his race.

Form: U/2352-1

Diger Daudaie^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 129| BF

7/1

Handicap hurdle winner at Uttoxeter last year, made favourite for first start over fences at Worcester last month but disappointed; unexposed and probably capable of better, but the way he finished off weakly at Worcester has to be a concern.

Form: 51431-6

Know The Score^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 129

13/8

Useful over hurdles but looks like making up into an even better chaser judged on his Worcester win last month (Diger Daudaie well behind), battling on gamely for pressure; if the wind operation works a second time, he could be tough to beat here.

Form: 0/3133-1

Perfect Candidate¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129

7/1

Well into the veteran stage now but retains some enthusiasm for the game; often given tough tasks and this probably his level these days, but bottom line is he didn't run well enough last time, and meets some unexposed sorts here.

Form: 63P5-44

Gold Opera^v²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 125

25/1

Hard to knock a lot of what he was doing last year but by the same token, found getting his head in front hard; needed recent outing at Ayr after his summer break but in truth he is getting a bit long in the tooth, and isn't really going forward.

Form: 22544-3

Kings Monarch⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 123

8/1

Starting to fall back to a more realistic mark after his two novice chase wins earlier in the year, has found life tough in the meantime; might not want the ground deep so needs the rain to stave off, and may do better for a pipe-opener last month.

Form: 115-444

Zerachiel^v1²⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122| CD

11/1

Winner over 28f here last year, a run after which the handicapper gave him a clout form which he's never fully recovered; coming back to a more realistic mark and has gone well fresh in the past, so hard to discount, especially if there's more rain.

Form: 41/U2P8-

Moving In Style¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R Walford| OR: 118

6/1

Winner of two of his six chase starts (for Neil Mulholland) and ran well to a point on first start for new yard at Exeter earlier in the month, looking in need of the run; capable of better, trip and ground both fine, and could easily take a hand.

Form: P1413-5

Forecasts

Know The Score (13/8), Moving In Style (6/1), Perfect Candidate (7/1), Diger Daudaie (7/1), Kings Monarch (8/1), Late Romantic (10/1), Zerachiel (11/1), Station Master (16/1), Gold Opera (25/1)

This might not take that much winning, and MOVING IN STYLE makes plenty of appeal. Useful for Neil Mulholland, he caught the eye on his first start for his new yard and with that under his belt, he will strip fitter today, and looks the one to beat. Zerachiel might benefit for a change of headgear and coming here fresh, and with a C&D to his name, has to be given a chance. Know The Score will be a big player if the wind operation he had before his latest win works as well again, and Late Romantic has less to prove than a few.