14:25 Haydock

Saturday 21 November 2020

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 6m 22.32s

Kalashnikov²⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 155WS

22/1

Second in the Supreme on his last run over hurdles in 2018 but back in this sphere on return after a disappointing end to last season over fences (bled when last seen). Has had a wind op.

Form: U1/2285-

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Wholestone²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 149| D

33/1

Smart staying hurdler who won a couple of small-field novice chases in a short campaign last season. Looked rusty and made mistakes back in this sphere in Wetherby Grade 2 last month. Has work to do.

Form: 50/121-5

The Jam Man¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss Maxine O'Sullivan⁽⁵⁾| T: R McNally| OR: 148| D

7/1

Thriving again, winning 2m York handicap before landing a huge punt in the Troytown over fences at Navan a fortnight ago. Career-high mark to overcome back hurdling but no surprise if he goes well.

Form: 1429-P1

Main Fact¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 147

13/2

Seeking a remarkable 9-timer having racked up a hat-trick back on the level after a superb season over hurdles. First go over 3m and could be up to the task. Yard won this in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Form: 311111-

Who Dares Wins^p⁹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 147

33/1

Fine dual-purpose performer, successful at Royal Ascot on reappearance. Poor runs up in grade twice since but placed over hurdles off higher marks in the past and should give it a good go.

Form: 53/2210-

Third Wind¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: H Morrison| OR: 141

6/1

EBF Final winner as a novice and continued his progress upped in trip last season, placed in the Pertemps. Encouraging return at Newbury a fortnight ago and worth a look.

Form: 11/714-5

Ask Dillon^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 141| D

20/1

Dual winner over hurdles as a novice and placed in a couple of staying handicaps last season. Well backed but fell before halfway on last month's chase debut at Cheltenham. Others more appealing.

Form: 01/320-F

West To The Bridge^h²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 140

20/1

Has returned in fine form over hurdles, seen to good effect when winning 20f Carlisle handicap 3 weeks ago, but this is much tougher up 7 lb and in trip/class.

Form: P175-21

Clyne²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 140| C

50/1

Plenty of good runs here and shaped as if retaining ability after 8 months off at Aintree, a ropey round of hurdling eventually telling. Not won since March 2018 but has his lowest mark for a while.

Form: 42358-0

Imperial Alcazar^t²⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 140

13/2

Useful in bumpers and a good staying hurdler in the making, successful again at Leicester (20.5f, heavy) when last seen. Looks ahead of his mark on return and will relish 3m. Leading claims.

Form: 23/1221-

Dolphin Square¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 139| D

17/2

Progressive hurdler who won 3 times under his owner last season and returned with a fine second under Johnson in extended 3m Newbury handicap. Up another 2 lb but wouldn't rule out.

Form: 21412-2

Flashjack¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: M G Nolan| T: H D Daly| OR: 137| CD

40/1

Landed C&D handicap in the mud last Christmas and returned with an encouraging effort at Aintree. Yard won this last year but he has no margin for error off current mark.

Form: 7/3518-5

Relegate^p1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: R M Power| T: Colm Murphy| OR: 137| BF

6/1

Lightly raced since his 2018 Champion Bumper heroics for Willie Mullins, catching the eye in the Pertemps in March and again on recent return at Navan. Very interesting in first-time headgear.

Form: 215/45-4

Collooney^t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 134

14/1

Back to winning ways in 19.2f Fontwell handicap hurdle in the mud on last month's return, readily coming clear. This is obviously tougher up 5 lb but he is unexposed over staying trips.

Form: 123/62-1

Justatenner^h²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson| OR: 134| D

80/1

Again showed a fine attitude when winning extended 3m Ayr handicap hurdle for second year running last month, holding on from Highland Hunter. Should run his usual sound race up in grade.

Form: 14-36U1

Fauburg Rosetgri²⁹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 134

80/1

Showed fairly useful form over fences/hurdles at up to 23f in France. Pulled up on his last 2 starts, however, and no chances been taken with his mark ahead of first run since February.

Form: 6/415PP-

Highland Hunter²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| BF| D

7/1

Held when fancied in this starting out for yard 12 months ago but back on track with victories at Musselburgh and a sound return behind Justatenner at Ayr after a wind op.

Form: 135/81-2

Non-Runners

I K Brunel²²

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: O Murphy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Third Wind (6/1), Relegate (6/1), Main Fact (13/2), Imperial Alcazar (13/2), Highland Hunter (7/1), The Jam Man (7/1), Dolphin Square (17/2), Collooney (14/1), Ask Dillon (20/1), West To The Bridge (20/1), Kalashnikov (22/1), I K Brunel (25/1), Who Dares Wins (33/1), Wholestone (33/1), Flashjack (40/1), Clyne (50/1), Justatenner (80/1), Fauburg Rosetgri (80/1)

IMPERIAL ALCAZAR developed into a useful novice last season and looks likely to do even better now tackling 3m for the first time on his handicap debut. He can make a winning return in a red-hot renewal of this staying handicap which has gone to some good ones in the past. Relegate, and Main Fact, seeking a remarkable 9-timer, are the chief dangers.