14:35 Haydock

Monday 30 December 2019

All12:2512:5513:3014:0014:3515:1015:40

Pied Bull Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 4m 44.30s

The Linksman⁴²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 135

50/1

Forced the pace throughout when winning maiden/novice hurdles at Fakenham (2m, heavy) and Bangor (2m½f, heavy) in early 2018; returns to action from a 425-day absence following an inauspicious first attempt (unseated rider) over fences.

Form: 8R211/U-

Theatre Legend⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: P J Brennan| T: C Grant| OR: 135

6/1

Has shot up the weights (some 23lb or so) since winning at Wetherby (2m, soft) in March; split the subsequent Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner Cornerstone Lad and the progressive Dali Mail at Wetherby (2m, soft) 44 days ago.

Form: 311-322

Crixus's Escape⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: G Boanas| OR: 128

14/1

Won for the third time over hurdles when picking up the pieces (left clear at the last) at Ayr (2m4½f, soft) in March; may strip fitter for seasonal reappearance at Carlisle; high enough in the weights off a mark of 128?

Form: 1/7431-4

Informateur²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 127| BF

7/1

Stayed on strongly to score by 10L (beat Midnight Moss) at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) on his penultimate start; just denied by the game Newtown Boy over C&D (soft) subsequently; is a further 3lb higher in the weights here.

Form: 243-012

Altruism¹⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 125

33/1

Cartmel specialist (all five career wins have come at his home track); 5lb lower than when beaten 2¼L by Double W's on his last visit to Haydock in March 2016; has been off the track for a period of six months.

Form: 81/72-40

Jelski³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123

9/2

Has shown ability in novice contests, appearing to be the type that is suited by a test of stamina; made hard work of landing the odds (an 8L winner) at Bangor (2m3½f, heavy) in November; is fairly weighted for handicap debut.

Form: 107-231

The Con Man²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 123

9/4

Oscar gelding (cost £70,000); made a winning start for Don McCain at Carlisle (2m4f, heavy) last December; couldn't match the finishing kick of the winner Marie's Rock on seasonal reappearance here (1m7½f, soft) 26 days ago; of some interest.

Form: 11-2

Notwhatiam⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: T J Phelan| T: A Berry| OR: 120

100/1

Winner over fences for Dan Skelton at Hexham (2m4f, good) in June, but going backwards at a rate of knots for his new yard; holds no realistic chance and is very easy to pass over.

Form: 226505

Zig Zag^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 119

33/1

Well below peak form since winning by an ever extending 9L at Cartmel (2m1f, heavy) in May; very difficult to fancy on that basis but is back to just 1lb above that last winning mark; NR (going) at Doncaster on Sunday.

Form: 170977

Flinck⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 119| D

5/1

Lightly raced and improving with experience over hurdles; made a winning handicap debut at Warwick (2m3f, soft) six weeks ago beating the Kim Bailey-trained Aliandy by 1¼L; one for the shortlist off just a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 5/53-31

Don Juan Du Gouet³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Bryony Frost| T: H D Daly| OR: 114| D

9/1

Disappointing when seeking the hat-trick at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) in November; 6lb above his last winning mark (Exeter), but is versatile in terms of underfoot conditions and is also reunited with Bryony Frost.

Form: 88-9116

Forecasts

The Con Man (9/4), Jelski (9/2), Flinck (5/1), Theatre Legend (6/1), Informateur (7/1), Don Juan Du Gouet (9/1), Crixus's Escape (14/1), Zig Zag (33/1), Altruism (33/1), The Linksman (50/1), Notwhatiam (100/1)

Both Theatre Legend and Informateur (C&D) have strong recent form in the book but equally hold few secrets from the handicapper. Therefore, the attention switches to a trio of less exposed former novices'. Flinck made a smooth winning handicap debut at Warwick (2m3f) six weeks ago and is definite shortlist material off just a 4lb higher mark, while the fairly weighted Jelski appears to be a staying handicapper in the making (hurdles or fences) for Nigel Twiston-Davies. However, the suggestion is the Donald McCain-trained THE CON MAN who lacked the finishing kick of Marie's Rock over 2m here recently, form which could be franked earlier by Ebony Jewel (1.30)