11:50 Haydock

Saturday 18 December 2021

All11:5012:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 11:50 | Winning time: 3m 52.45s

Chti Balko³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 129| CD

13/8

3-time C&D winner who took this contest last year but struggled in subsequent outings. Shaped as if better for the run on reappearance so expected to feature from this mark under optimum conditions.

Form: 15P66-3

Altruism³³²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 128| D

33/1

Useful hurdler/chaser. Good second of 6 in 2m handicap hurdle at Wetherby this time last year but failed to make much impact in a jumpers' bumper a month later. Off since so fitness taken on trust.

Form: 061/220-

Firak^t³³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 127

12/1

Point winner who has shown fairly useful form in this sphere, easily getting off the mark at Chepstow after a break/wind op back in January. Makes handicap debut now and may well feature.

Form: 322/361-

Fusain^t¹¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: K Brogan| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 125| D

66/1

Fairly useful chaser who was below form on his final couple of outings for Henry de Bromhead and has been picked up quite cheaply by new connections. Worth a market check back over timber.

Form: 56-7364

Nordic Combined^t,v³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 123| C| D

17/2

Resumed winning ways at Hexham (16.2f) in May and similar form when second at Kelso at end of that month. Below that level since but is edging down the weights as a result. Not the most resolute.

Form: 172604

Destrier^t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| D

40/1

Smart 2m novice chaser back in 2018/19 but didn't appear to be the force of old last season. Never landed a blow after 8 months off at Huntingdon 13 days ago so will need to take a step forward.

Form: 5/4558-7

Green Book¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Ned Fox⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 122| BF

6/4

Much improved on the level this year for in-form yard and ran well on form conceding race fitness to an unbeaten rival when runner-up over C&D 17 days ago. Remains capable of better so shortlisted.

Form: 2-2

Caswell Bay²⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 114

25/1

Successful at Chepstow over 19.5f in the mud nearly 2 years ago. Hasn't stood much racing since and watching brief advised for this reappearance.

Form: 1P/9364-

Bari Breeze^t1²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Kevin Jones| T: M F Harris| OR: 107WS

10/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who ran his best race to date when second in a Fontwell maiden hurdle last month. Failed to get home on handicap bow next time and tongue tie now applied after a wind op.

Form: 312526

Forecasts

Green Book (6/4), Chti Balko (13/8), Nordic Combined (17/2), Bari Breeze (10/1), Firak (12/1), Caswell Bay (25/1), Altruism (33/1), Destrier (40/1), Fusain (66/1)

A few in with a shout but CHTI BALKO shaped as if he'd be better for the run when third at Wetherby 5 weeks ago. He's dropped to a very good mark and, under optimum conditions, gets the vote to take this contest for a second year in succession. Green Book remains capable of better so he heads the dangers on handicap bow after his recent runner-up effort over C&D, ahead of Bari Breeze.