12:55 Haydock

Saturday 18 January 2020

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:15

Jockey Club Haydock Park Racing Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 4m 3.12s

Le Ligerien³^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 12-5| J: Ben Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120| D

1/2

Improving sort. Knocked at the door on previous three starts and took a massive leap when easy 19L win at Newbury (2m) three days ago. Massive hike in weights but has a top 5lb conditional on board. Leading claims.

Form: 0-63321

Vengeur De Guye^t²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Thomas Willmott⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120| D

40/1

Easy winner at Kelso (2m1f) on first run this season but well held since. Last seen finishing 17L third in 2m1f Kelso handicap chase. Reverts to hurdles and calmer waters.

Form: 416-103

Notwhatiam¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: T J Phelan| T: A Berry| OR: 115

150/1

Fairly highly tried this season and running to outsider status accordingly. Tailed off over 2m3f here last time and looks to be facing another equally tough task.

Form: 265059

Bonne Question⁴⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 113| D

10/1

Bolted up in Ffos Las handicap hurdle 11 months ago (2m) but yet to win since off higher marks. 7L second at Lingfield (2m) in December but may need more to trouble the judge.

Form: 0125-62

Quinlandio³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Dowson| T: R M Whitaker| OR: 112| D

66/1

December 2014 was when he last got on the scoreboard in a career hampered by injuries. Pulled up on return from 1343-day absence which makes him easy to dismiss.

Form: 2123P/P

Serious Ego²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 109| D

20/1

Modest performer for Gordon Elliott and raced only once for this yard, finishing 19L sixth at Wetherby (2m) on Boxing Day. Needs more but may get better in time for this yard.

Form: 80-6986

Flamboyant Joyaux²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 106| D

11/4

Point-to-point winner who had slowly been improving and rewarded for that when winning at Wetherby (2m) on Boxing Day. Only up 4lb which puts him right in the mix. Considered.

Form: 2-18331

Non-Runners

Sastruga³⁹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: Henry Oliver J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Le Ligerien (1/2), Flamboyant Joyaux (11/4), Sastruga (7/1), Bonne Question (10/1), Serious Ego (20/1), Vengeur De Guye (40/1), Quinlandio (66/1), Notwhatiam (150/1)

This race brings two improvers into the equation and it could be between them both. Preference is for top-weight LE LIGERIEN, who fulfilled some promising efforts when romping to victory at Newbury earlier this week. The nature of the victory suggests the hike in the weights should be no issue and the fact he's turned out so quickly suggests he is still in flying form. Flamboyant Joyaux got off the mark at Wetherby last time out and has been given some leniency off a light weight by the handicapper, while Sastruga and Serious Ego both ran taking races (for different reasons) last time and it would be no shock if they were to improve.