14:55 Haydock

Wednesday 2 December 2020

All12:1012:4513:1513:5014:2014:5515:30

Read Paul Nicholls On betting.betfair Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 51.72s

Better Getalong³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 131

14/1

Creditable efforts in his 3 outings last term but beaten long before stamina should have been an issue in 3m Ayr handicap on reappearance. Needs to leave that run well behind.

Form: 65/532-P

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Goobinator³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 130

11/4

Improved to make it 3 wins from only 6 hurdle starts when shading tight finish in 2m Ayr handicap (heavy) 32 days ago. Ought to remain very competitive after just a 4 lb rise.

Form: 1212-41

Hijack⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| BF

7/2

Dual 2m Ludlow novice winner last term. Better still when second in 19f Fontwell handicap on return and it's perhaps worth giving him the benefit of the doubt for a lesser run at Cheltenham since.

Form: 5113-20

Monotype^p,t³⁵²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R Bandey| OR: 129

80/1

Struggled in varied events in Ireland towards the end of 2019 and looks only averagely handicapped even on his best efforts over there now setting out for new trainer Richard Bandey.

Form: 33F6/60-

Laverteen⁵⁹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Burton⁽⁵⁾| T: A Day| OR: 128| D

80/1

Dual hurdle winner at up to 19f in Ireland for Noel Meade in 2018/19 but been off the track since ahead of this return for a new stable. The chances are he's best watched.

Form: 215515/

Multellie¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby| OR: 126| C| D

20/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler but despite being fit from the Flat he could only manage a well-held fourth in Wetherby handicap on his return to timber 18 days ago.

Form: 72216-4

Ebony Jewel²⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: N W Alexander| OR: 126| C

9/2

Bumper winner who enjoyed a productive first campaign over hurdles, including a 2m course novice win. Has the potential for better still now handicapping on return.

Form: 6/3312F-

The Cob³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 124

11/2

Came good at the third time of asking over hurdles when returning from 8 months off to see off 9 rivals at Uttoxeter (soft) in October. Unexposed now moving into handicaps.

Form: 237/23-1

Oscars Leader^v²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 122

4/1

Much improved since fitted with a visor, winning twice from the front last February. Bumped into a Nicky Henderson improver on Sandown return and big player off the same mark now.

Form: 35112-2

Non-Runners

Minella Charmer³⁴⁷

Weight: 11-10| Age: 9

T: James Moffatt J: Charlotte Jones

Forecasts

Goobinator (11/4), Hijack (7/2), Oscars Leader (4/1), Ebony Jewel (9/2), The Cob (11/2), Minella Charmer (7/1), Better Getalong (14/1), Multellie (20/1), Laverteen (80/1), Monotype (80/1)

The Jennie Candlish team continues in fine form so OSCARS LEADER is selected to build on his good reappearance run behind a progressive sort at Sandown. Goobinator is respected on the back of his Ayr win, while this is a little easier than the big-field Cheltenham handicap Hijack ran in last time so it would be no surprise to see him get back on the upgrade.