13:30 Haydock

Saturday 18 February 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1815:5016:2517:00

Betfred Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 53.85s

Afadil¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 124| D

3/1

French Flat winner who easily landed short odds on his Taunton hurdle debut and was value for extra when following up in Musselburgh listed event 13 days ago, travelling powerfully and merely shaken up to assert. Open to further improvement and holds leading claims.

Form: 11

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Bo Zenith⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: G & J Moore| BF

9/4

Zarak gelding who looked a good prospect when landing newcomers race at Auteuil (14.9f) sole start for David Cottin back in April. Checked out tamely on British debut at Sandown when sent off 4/11 but was possibly amiss and remains with potential.

Form: 1-3

I Have A Voice^t⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Buckley| T: N J Hawke| OR: 123| D

6/1

Fairly useful Flat winner in Ireland and has reached a similar level over hurdles, resuming winning ways with a fluent round of jumping in 4-runner event at Sandown (2m) 42 days ago. This is much tougher, though.

Form: 43191

Punta Del Este⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

4/1

Left hurdling debut form behind when winning 9-runner juvenile at Cagnes-Sur-Mer (16.4f, soft) 61 days ago, produced to lead last and quickening clear. Has subsequently joined Dan Skelton and open to further improvement.

Form: 91

Planet Legend^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| D

14/1

Fairly useful and reliable maiden on Flat for James Ferguson who was much improved when off the mark over hurdles at Huntingdon (15.8f) 19 days ago. That was a thin affair though, so plenty more is needed now taking on better opposition.

Form: U61

Apologise^h1,t⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

150/1

Fair Flat winner for Andrew Slattery in Ireland but has yet to better poor form over hurdles, racing too freely in a first-time tongue strap at Hereford last time. Hood now added but will be of more interest in handicaps after this.

Form: 36

Snapius^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: J Nash| OR: 109

12/1

Fairly useful winner at 10f on Flat and steadily going the right way over hurdles, confirming the improvement shown on his previous start when third in 9-runner event at Punchestown (2m, heavy) 19 days ago, running on late. Another step forward needed here but not ruled out.

Form: 4943

V Twelve¹²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: E Walker

66/1

Fairly useful form on the Flat, stays 1¼m, improved when off the mark in Windsor handicap last time. Has been gelded ahead of hurdle debut and interesting to see how he fares in the betting.

Form:

Cianciana²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 114

11/1

Fair winner on Flat and off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt at Sedgefield in January. Ran well in the face of a tougher task at Doncaster subsequently and likely to give another good account.

Form: 3213

Forecasts

Bo Zenith (9/4), Afadil (3/1), Punta Del Este (4/1), I Have A Voice (6/1), Cianciana (11/1), Snapius (12/1), Planet Legend (14/1), V Twelve (66/1), Apologise (150/1)

A steady pace masked AFADIL's superiority at Musselburgh so there's no real urge to oppose him. Punta del Este, a lightly-raced winner in France, is open to further improvement on first start for Dan Skelton, while Cianciana should give another good account in receipt of weight.