14:05 Haydock

Saturday 20 February 2021

All13:3014:0514:4015:1415:5016:2517:00

William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 6m 19.29s

Emitom¹²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 154| BF| CDWS

4/1

Smart hurdler who readily landed this event last season before a good fourth in Stayers' at Cheltenham. Placed twice sent chasing this year and needs considering back in this sphere after a wind op.

Form: 2/614-23

Lisnagar Oscar⁸⁵

6/1

Had a slow start to last term but ended with much-improved display to land Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Not at that level both starts this season and this C&D scorer returns after breathing op now.

Form: 9F31-47

Main Fact⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Pipe| OR: 154| CD

8/1

Made it 9 on the spin when scoring on return to hurdles off a mark of 147 over C&D in November. Came up short in Long Walk at Ascot only run since but sort to bounce back.

Form: 1111-17

On The Blind Side^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 153| D

4/1

Has done well back hurdling this season, winning 3m listed Cheltenham handicap on return and 23f Market Rasen contest 35 days ago, both on heavy. Obvious claims in this sort of form.

Form: 31-1221

Ballyoptic^t³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 158| D

14/1

Very smart chaser on his day, the Charlie Hall among his 3 victories last season. Back to form at Warwick last month and goes hurdling for first time since October 2017 now (formerly smart).

Form: 401-P06

Donna's Diamond^p1²⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant| OR: 137| C| D

66/1

Rendlesham Hurdle winner here in 2018 and fine second in last season's renewal of that Grade 2 contest. However, well held both starts this term, in C&D handicap last time and cheekpieces go on now.

Form: 35/2P-67

Itchy Feet⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 155

4/1

Smart over hurdles and even better over fences. Creditable efforts this term, though reportedly bled when second of 3 at Ascot last time. Back hurdling now with his stamina to prove.

Form: 11U-322

Third Wind⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: H Morrison| OR: 146

9/2

EBF Final winner as a novice and has continued his progress over staying trips, runner-up to Main Fact in Betfair Hurdle over C&D. Well held in the Long Walk latest run and no easy task again here.

Form: 714-525

Forecasts

On The Blind Side (4/1), Itchy Feet (4/1), Emitom (4/1), Third Wind (9/2), Lisnagar Oscar (6/1), Main Fact (8/1), Ballyoptic (14/1), Donna's Diamond (66/1)

ON THE BLIND SIDE is one of the few who arrives at the top of his game and, with his stamina proven, is fancied to gain win number three in a productive season. Emitom has been chasing but took this contest impressively 12 months ago and isn't dismissed lightly after a wind op. C&D scorer Main Fact saw his remarkable winning spree end in the Long Walk but can't be ruled out back here.