14:25 Haydock

Saturday 20 November 2021

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

Betfair Exchange Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 5m 53.06s

If The Cap Fits^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: D A Jacob| T: H Fry| OR: 149| BF

18/1

Really smart hurdler/chaser at best. Ended last season on a low note but made quite an encouraging return to action over a trip short of his best at Aintree 14 days ago. Cheekpieces go back on.

Form: 23290-2

Ask Dillon^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 144| D

25/1

Smart handicap hurdler last season, signing off with success at Cheltenham (3m) in April. Below par in a novice chase and Wetherby Grade 2 hurdle this term but he is back to that winning mark.

Form: 2461-46

Stoney Mountain¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 142| CD

22/1

Winner of this race in 2019 when trained by Henry Daly. Lightly raced in last couple of years but showed he's as good as ever when beating Didtheyleaveuoutto by ¾ length to win at Newbury 16 days ago.

Form: 59/37-P1

Doctor Duffy^v³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: C Byrnes| OR: 139

25/1

Very useful chaser in first half of last season. Shaped as if retaining ability when 6 lengths second over hurdles at Thurles on his reappearance and can be made to look well treated on chase form.

Form: 13F58-2

Orbys Legend⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138

9/2

Quickly made up into useful novice at 2m last term and took it up another notch when seeing off 16 rivals to land Silver Trophy on 19.5f Chepstow return. Stamina isn't assured but surely more to come.

Form: 2/2131-1

Didtheyleaveuoutto¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: N J Gifford| OR: 136

16/1

Has returned in cracking form, finishing with a flourish for second to Orbys Legend in Silver Trophy before proving himself at 3m when chasing home Stoney Mountain at Newbury. Thereabouts.

Form: F/F24-22

Dans Le Vent³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 135

16/1

Second in valuable 2½m handicap at Aintree Grand National meeting on final start last term and just as good when runner-up in 2m Welsh Champion Hurdle on return. Placed over 3m earlier in career.

Form: 14482-2

Flight Deck^p³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133| D

15/2

Made it 3-4 in handicap hurdles when seeing off 7 rivals on his 3m Wetherby reappearance with cheekpieces added (retained). The second/third both ran well next time. 3 lb rise may not stop him.

Form: 01/F14-1

Bass Rock^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 130

13/2

It's all clicked with him since switched to handicaps/fitted with a tongue tie, winning at Ayr in April and following up in clear-cut fashion on Carlisle return (2½m) 3 weeks ago. May do better again.

Form: 22321-1

Gladiateur Allen²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Chester Williams⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 129| BF

12/1

Ascot novice winner last term and third in EBF Final at Sandown in March. Faded into remote third on 3m Ffos Las return but perhaps fitness was more the reason as connections happy to stick at 3m.

Form: 23163-3

Riggs²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

11/1

Won 2½m Uttoxeter handicap a year ago and back on the up when second (Gladiateur Allen third) in EBF Final in March. Caught too far back on Aintree return, shaping nicely under circumstances. Player.

Form: 1322F-5

Rightplacerightime¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁷⁾| T: E Mullins| OR: 125| D

11/4

Having only third run for this trainer when taking 3m Fairyhouse maiden chase 18 days ago. Did that comfortably and has to be of interest back hurdling for yard which did so well in Britain last term.

Form: P60-241

Non-Runners

Brinkley²⁴⁷

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: D Pipe J: T Scudamore

Storm Arising²⁴⁷

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Martinhal²⁴⁶

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: D Pipe J: R Patrick

Winningseverything²⁷

Weight: 10-5| Age: 7

T: H Fry J: Lorcan Murtagh

Forecasts

Rightplacerightime (11/4), Orbys Legend (9/2), Bass Rock (13/2), Flight Deck (15/2), Brinkley (10/1), Riggs (11/1), Gladiateur Allen (12/1), Martinhal (14/1), Dans Le Vent (16/1), Didtheyleaveuoutto (16/1), If The Cap Fits (18/1), Storm Arising (20/1), Stoney Mountain (22/1), Doctor Duffy (25/1), Ask Dillon (25/1), Winningseverything (33/1)

FLIGHT DECK left the impression he was always doing enough in first-time cheekpieces when seeing off a couple of solid yardsticks at Wetherby last month and could still be well treated off 3 lb higher. Riggs should be spot on for this after his Aintree return, while Silver Trophy winner Orbys Legend looks sure to have a big say if his stamina holds. Rightplacerightime completes the shortlist.