16:15 Haydock

Saturday 22 January 2022

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:15

Plank Lane Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 4m 4.3s

Minella Charmer²³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Charlotte Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: James Moffatt| OR: 119| CD

8/1

Veteran who landed handicaps 9 months apart in 2019 (latterly over C&D). Seen in action only 3 times since, pulled up both starts this campaign. Can only be watched, even allowing for drop in trip.

Form: 311/3-PP

Sao Maxence⁷⁰⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 117| DWS

5/1

Lightly-raced 9-y-o who won a bumper and opened hurdles account at second attempt in Carlisle maiden (17f) during early-2020. Absent since but worth a look now handicapping after wind op.

Form: 1221/

The Grey Falco⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 116| DWS

85/40

Made up into a fairly useful novice hurdler last winter and not without promise when fifth on Bangor return (19.5f) in November. Not in same form at Cheltenham following month but had wind op since.

Form: 132P-56

Feivel²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 113

4/1

Off the mark at second attempt for this yard in Hexham maiden (20f) in December. Couldn't replicate that on handicap debut at Fakenham next time but it remains early days. Not ruled out.

Form: 3-F17

Near Kettering^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 106

25/1

Bagged handicap hurdles at Market Rasen and Carlisle in 2021. More miss than hit subsequently, easy to back and not threatening at Doncaster (19.4f) earlier this month.

Form: 115F59

Sacre Pierre²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 116| BF| D

11/4

Back-to-back juvenile hurdle winner last summer who wasn't disgraced up in class thereafter. Closing on winner when falling last on handicap debut at Doncaster latest and he's one to consider here.

Form: 1135F

Non-Runners

Thor De Cerisy⁶⁷

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: M Scudamore J: R Patrick

Rob Royal⁴⁵⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 10

T: J Coulson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

The Grey Falco (85/40), Sacre Pierre (11/4), Feivel (4/1), Sao Maxence (5/1), Rob Royal (6/1), Minella Charmer (8/1), Thor De Cerisy (10/1), Near Kettering (25/1)

A dual juvenile hurdle winner back in the summer, SACRE PIERRE was no spent force when coming to grief at the last on handicap debut at Doncaster in December. He appeals as being on a good mark and gets the nod to come out on top. Sao Maxence on belated return/handicap debut following a wind op is of interest, ahead of another low-mileage sort in Feivel.