15:35 Haydock

Saturday 19 November 2022

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 49.78s

Good Boy Bobby²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 146

11/2

Bagged a couple of quality handicap chases at Wetherby last season, including when gamely seeing off Lord du Mesnil in the 3m Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Should come on for reappearance at Ascot 3 weeks ago and likely to make his presence felt.

Form: 1217P-7

Truckers Lodge^p²⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽¹⁰⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 145

6/1

Winless since landing the 2020 Midlands Grand National but he was placed twice off higher marks than this last season, including in the Welsh National. Still has low mileage for a 10-y-o and he will be a danger to all if ready to roll following an 8-month break.

Form: 77/5336-

The Big Breakaway^p²⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 144

7/1

Smart novice chaser in 2020/21 but largely disappointing during a light campaign last season. Conversely, time is still on his side and he would be a serious player off this reduced mark if able get back on track.

Form: 3P/F23P-

Crosspark⁵⁷⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-13| J: S Bowen| T: N Kent| OR: 144| D

50/1

Hit the target 5 times during 2020/21 and he was a creditable sixth of 16 in a valuable Sandown handicap on final start of that campaign. However, he missed the whole of last season and wellbeing has to be taken on trust on this debut for new connections.

Form: 222P26/

Easysland^p,t²⁰³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142

66/1

On a good mark judged on his cross-country exploits (winner of the Glenfarclas Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival) but failed to shine in 4 starts for Jonjo O'Neill and now has a fair bit to prove.

Form: 42/PPPP-

Rapper²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 139

14/1

Winner of small-field 25f handicaps at Catterick and Wincanton last season but ended that campaign with a heavy defeat at the Cheltenham Festival. Again failed to fire on his Ascot reappearance and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: P2110-9

Musical Slave^p²¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| CD

10/1

Back to his best when scoring at Sandown and over this C&D during the spring. Wasn't ideally placed when second back at Sandown on final start of last season but resumes on a 7 lb higher mark and his record when fresh doesn't augur particularly well.

Form: 9/33112-

Fontaine Collonges³⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 132

7/2

Bumper/hurdles winner who ended promising first season over fences with a thoroughly decisive success at Lingfield (2½m, soft) in January. Up 10 lb for that but she's lightly-raced and may well have more to offer, particularly now faced with a stiffer test.

Form: 31/4141-

Houston Texas²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 122| D

5/2

Back-to-back winner of Carlisle handicap chases in February and further progress when completing the hat-trick on return at the same course (26.2f, soft) last month. More on his plate here up 6 lb but this low-mileage 8-y-o remains open to improvement in this sphere.

Form: 74211-1

If Not For Dylan^h²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: D R Fox| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 117| BF

12/1

Justified strong support and proved better than ever when successful at Perth in May. Hasn't done a great deal wrong in 3 starts since returning from a break but he's likely to find this too competitive.

Form: 2U-1324

Non-Runners

Lord Du Mesnil¹⁰

Weight: 12-1| Age: 9

T: R Hobson J: Paul O'Brien

Rapid Flight³

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: James Moffatt J: Charlotte Jones

Forecasts

Houston Texas (5/2), Fontaine Collonges (7/2), Good Boy Bobby (11/2), Truckers Lodge (6/1), Lord Du Mesnil (6/1), The Big Breakaway (7/1), Musical Slave (10/1), If Not For Dylan (12/1), Rapper (14/1), Rapid Flight (20/1), Crosspark (50/1), Easysland (66/1)

With so few miles on the clock, it's safe to assume that HOUSTON TEXAS has yet to reach the ceiling of his ability and he can be expected to take this step up in class in his stride. Nicky Richards' progressive 8-y-o may have most to fear from triple course winner Lord du Mesnil, who made a positive start to the campaign when runner-up at Bangor. Fontaine Collonges is 2-4 over fences and she also enters calculations, along with Truckers Lodge.