14:40 Haydock

Thursday 30 December 2021

All12:3013:0013:3514:0514:4015:1515:45

Windham Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 5m 6.30s

Rockadenn^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 135| D

12/1

Hurdle/chase winner who was better when ever when taking a Taunton handicap hurdle for Paul Nicholls in February. Disappointing start for current yard at Doncaster on return, but might come on for it.

Form: 2/R1P-37

Chti Balko¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 131| C

3/1

3-time course winner who is well treated and looked as good as ever when runner-up to Green Book (went in again next time) at this course last time. Capable of going one better.

Form: 5P66-32

Moon Over Germany³³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R Dickin| OR: 130

80/1

Very useful hurdler/chaser for Henry De Bromhead but ended time in Ireland below his best and no encouragement to glean from either outing for his current stable.

Form: 040-0PP

Collooney^t²⁰⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 129| D

28/1

Bumper/hurdles winner who was somewhat disappointing over fences last season, so no great surprise he's back in this sphere for his reappearance. Claims if he's tuned up.

Form: 1PP43-9

Celebre D'Allen²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126| CD

9/4

Useful jumper in France and successful start for new yard after 2 years off in C&D handicap hurdle earlier this month. Big shout if backing that up after 6 lb rise.

Form: 13272/1

Mister Watson²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 126| D

12/1

Fair hurdler who upped his game to score at Lingfield with something to spare last time. Might not have reached his limit, but has been a touch unreliable so far.

Form: P24-251

Minella Charmer¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 125| C

33/1

Landed handicap hurdles 9 months apart in 2019. Missed 2020 and hasn't shown much on either outing this term.

Form: P311/3-P

Homme Public^t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 123| BF

7/2

Promising start over hurdles in Britain, winning at Market Rasen in February. Not up to the Fred Winter at Cheltenham but right back on track when third to Celebre d'Allen on reappearance. Considered.

Form: 22210-3

Rattle Owl³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 122| BF

5/1

Dual winner over hurdles who was slightly inconvenienced by the drop in trip when runner-up at Doncaster last time. More to come back at this sort of distance, so makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 61-31F2

Forecasts

Celebre D'Allen (9/4), Chti Balko (3/1), Homme Public (7/2), Rattle Owl (5/1), Rockadenn (12/1), Mister Watson (12/1), Collooney (28/1), Minella Charmer (33/1), Moon Over Germany (80/1)

CHTI BALKO does most of his racing at 2m but this trip holds no fears for him and, having bumped into a similarly well-treated rival at this course 12 days ago, he's fancied to make the most of his reduced mark this time. Celebre d'Allen scored cosily over C&D on debut for Philip Hobbs earlier in the month, so he's considered along with Homme Public, who was back in third that day.