14:44 Haydock

Saturday 16 April 2022

All14:0914:4415:1915:5216:2917:0117:34

Challenger Middle Distance Chase Series Final Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:44 | Winning time: 5m 1.09s

Numitor⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: H Main| OR: 140

6/1

Enhanced good strike rate over fences with a facile success at Doncaster (19f, heavy) last month. Hit with a 9 lb rise and back up in class here, but merits respect all the same.

Form: 3-31241

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Nocte Volatus^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 132| BF| D

13/2

Winner of three of his four completed chase starts, and lost little caste in defeat when just touched off under a penalty at Sandown (2½m, soft) last time (three of these rivals behind). Leading claims.

Form: 1R1F12

Quoi De Neuf^t⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 129| D

8/1

Point winner who belatedly confirmed chase debut promise when successful over 19f at Taunton in December. Not kicked on from that, though, for all that his latest effort at Ludlow was decent.

Form: P-41332

Tanarpino^v⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 126| D

40/1

Won at Bangor last summer and another good run there when second over 3m in December. Latest third at Doncaster was creditable, too, but this 11-y-o looks vulnerable here.

Form: 4152P3

Nickolson^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 126

12/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner, but hasn't progressed following his encouraging return/chase debut in November, finishing well adrift of Nocte Volatus at Sandown in first-time cheekpieces (retained) last time.

Form: 85-2224

Deyrann de Carjac^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: A King| OR: 126| D

17/2

Often highly tried this season and has slipped to a handy mark, but wasn't able to capitalise on the drop to Class 3 company with cheekpieces (retained) enlisted at Sandown last month.

Form: 5055F3

Le Cameleon^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: Nick Williams| OR: 126

11/1

Back to form since returning from a short break, bagging handicaps at Fontwell and most recently at Newton Abbot (21f, soft). However, this is a more demanding assignment.

Form: 45P141

Isolate⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 124| D

3/1

Has taken well to chasing and doubled his tally in this sphere when narrowly prevailing at Ludlow (2½m, good to soft) in February. 4 lb rise looks very fair indeed, particularly in light of the subsequent exploits of the runner-up that day.

Form: 216421

Mahler's Promise²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 122

11/1

Mixed record over hurdles but cemented positive start over fences when successful at Newton Abbot last summer. Did well under the circumstances when third at Ascot (16.8f, good) latest and needs considering.

Form: 122353

Corran Cross³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 122| BF

6/1

Winner over hurdles/fences in Ireland and bang there when falling two out at Wincanton on Boxing Day. Good second back from a break at Stratford (22.6f, soft) and couldn't rule out, for all that this is tougher.

Form: 1422F2

The Unit⁴³

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: B S Hughes| T: A King| OR: 121| D

18/1

Showed battling qualities to gain first win since 2018 at Doncaster in February. Failed to fire back there in the race won by Numitor next time, though, and Isolate appears to be the stable first-string.

Form: 4-73314

Forecasts

Isolate (3/1), Corran Cross (6/1), Numitor (6/1), Nocte Volatus (13/2), Quoi De Neuf (8/1), Deyrann de Carjac (17/2), Mahler's Promise (11/1), Le Cameleon (11/1), Nickolson (12/1), The Unit (18/1), Tanarpino (40/1)

None of these can be ruled out with complete confidence. NOCTE VOLATUS gets the nod on the back of his near miss at Sandown where he was overhauled close home by one given a cracking ride. Next on the list is Isolate, who got the better of subsequent Kim Muir winner Chambard at Ludlow when last seen in February. Mahler's Promise and Numitor are others to consider closely.