15:19 Haydock

Saturday 16 April 2022

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

Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 3m 41.19s

Oakley³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 134| D

17/2

Capitalised on a falling mark back down in grade/trip in 7-runner handicap hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, soft) 33 days ago, by ¾ length from Osprey Call. Hit with 6 lb rise but still has scope on old form.

Form: 366-391

Osprey Call^h³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 127| BF| D

18/5

Opened his account for the season at Warwick in February and improved again when ¾-length second of 7 to Oakley in handicap (6/4) at Stratford (16.3f, soft) 33 days ago. Should give another good account.

Form: 2-FF612

Ingleby Hollow^p,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 125| D

25/1

Suited by strong pace when finally off the mark in handicap hurdles at Doncaster in November. Solid third behind a less exposed pair at Ayr sole outing since and can give another good account.

Form: 226313

Howdyalikemenow³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 125| D

5/1

Landed a pair of 2m novices in the autumn and added to tally when making second handicap start a winning one at Ffos Las in January. Below form in stronger events next 2 outings but got back on track when sixth of 22 in Imperial Cup at Sandown last month.

Form: 101606

Kannapolis²³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 125| D

12/1

Made the most of a golden opportunity in 3-runner handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (15.8f, good) 23 days ago, left in front fourth and driven out to beat only other rival. Nudged up only 1 lb though, and he arrives here fresh for this stage of the season.

Form: 212-251

First Impression¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 124| D

15/2

Readily landed 2m Wetherby handicap in November and has posted good efforts since, including on the Flat at Pontefract 11 days ago. Likely to give another good account.

Form: 15-1U32

Chti Balko⁴⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: Abbie McCain⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119| CD

16/1

3-time C&D winner who was ridden too aggressively when below form at Wetherby (16f, heavy) last time. Has fallen to a good mark and can bounce back.

Form: 323925

Castel Gandolfo^b1,t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

18/1

Ran poorly down in grade when 23¼ lengths fifth of 7 to Oakley in handicap hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, soft) 33 days ago. Blinkers on for 1st time. Others more persuasive.

Form: 132275

Blakeney Point^b,t²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 117| D

33/1

Unreliable sort who was flattered to finish as close as he did when third of 5 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f, good to soft, 11/1) 23 days ago, suited by way race developed. Back down in trip.

Form: 333573

Destrier^t²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 116| D

10/1

Smart 2m novice chaser in 2018/19 but didn't appear to be the force of old last term. Down in the weights back hurdling this season and had hinted at a rival prior to falling at Doncaster last month. Can't be dismissed.

Form: 8-7954F

Zabeel Champion⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 116| BF| D

11/4

Smart handicapper on Flat. Winning start over hurdles at Leicester (2m) in November. Unlucky to bump into an even better one there next time and faded only close home after a bad mistake at the last on handicap debut at Carlisle. Worth another chance back from a break.

Form: 124

Non-Runners

Samba Dancer¹⁵⁵

Weight: 10-8| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Liam Harrison

Forecasts

Zabeel Champion (11/4), Osprey Call (18/5), Howdyalikemenow (5/1), First Impression (15/2), Oakley (17/2), Destrier (10/1), Samba Dancer (10/1), Kannapolis (12/1), Chti Balko (16/1), Castel Gandolfo (18/1), Ingleby Hollow (25/1), Blakeney Point (33/1)

ZABEEL CHAMPION, a smart handicapper on the Flat, is worth another chance to prove himself on a good mark in this sphere returning from a break. Chti Balko has dropped to an attractive mark himself and is expected to bounce back from a below-par display at Wetherby when ridden too aggressively. Kannapolis made the most of a golden opportunity at Huntingdon but is still a fresh horse for the time of year and needs respecting, also.