13:30 Haydock

Saturday 8 April 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

cavani.co.uk Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 3m 41.62s

Nayati³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽⁵⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 134| D

16/1

Missed nearly 3 years but returned better than ever, winning 3 times including a good pot at Musselburgh on New Year's Day. Fair runs in competitive handicaps the last twice but this is another hot race.

Form: 316158

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Galice Macalo^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Best| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 128| D

40/1

Useful hurdler who posted a career best when impressively winning 10-runner handicap at Chepstow (2m) in January. Excuses back from 7 weeks off behind Bubble Dubi at Stratford last month and should be closer to form here.

Form: 243145

Too Friendly^b1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| D

5/1

Won 2 juvenile hurdles last season (also fifth in Fred Winter) and has been shaping well in defeat this term, not staying at Kempton (21f, heavy) 3 weeks ago having taken a keen hold. Interesting back over 2m in first-time blinkers.

Form: 422246

Whizz Kid^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Luke Scott⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 124| D

11/2

Notched up a third hurdles success and first of the season for in-form yard in extended 2m Doncaster handicap 5 weeks ago, getting up on the line under this rider. Nudged up 2 lb and wouldn't rule out for all this is tougher.

Form: 36P281

Takeit Easy²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 122| D

10/1

Four-time winning hurdler over 2m who hasn't shown his form in 3 outings this season, but has shaped better than the result on a couple of occasions and now been given another helping hand from the handicapper. Interesting.

Form: 124-045

Big Boy Bobby²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 120| D

10/1

Got off the mark over hurdles in good style at Huntingdon (2m) in December and was just denied in a stronger race at Kempton over Christmas. Shaped as if still in good form after 11 weeks off at Fakenham but needs to step it up a gear to win this.

Form: 6F-412P

Castel Gandolfo^b,t¹⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118| D

14/1

Not added to his two wins over 2m early in the 2021/22 season but plenty of good efforts in the meantime, going close off this mark in last year's Final here. Got to be respected back from a break.

Form: 2-42445

Bashful Boy^p³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 117| D

20/1

Won at Market Rasen last summer and been in top form on the AW Flat in recent months. On a good mark but needs a huge effort to land a race as competitive as this.

Form: 027455

Bubble Dubi²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 117| D

18/5

Belatedly put it all together as he justified strong support in 2m Stratford handicap 4 weeks ago, beating Word Has it by 3 lengths. More to come up 5 lb and this race should be run to suit his striking strong-travelling style. Leading claims.

Form: 3-25451

Risk D'Argent¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: J J Burke| T: A Ralph| OR: 114| BF| D

28/1

Fair winning hurdler who ran his best race over fences when third at Bangor a fortnight ago. Bit more needed back over the smaller obstacles in a competitive heat but may have more in the locker.

Form: 2-35943

Cousu Main⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 113| D

50/1

Landed a second victory at Uttoxeter (2m) in January, landing a gamble with an easy victory. Not so good at Chepstow off revised mark since though and this is even tougher.

Form: 683717

Fringill Dike³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Henry Brooke| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 112| D

11/1

Won three 2m novice events on the bounce at Hexham last year. Fair runs in Doncaster handicaps the last twice and on a workable mark but this is his toughest assignment to date.

Form: 117533

Aggagio²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 110| BF| D

6/1

Likeable dual purpose performer who struck again over hurdles at Leicester in December. Just third having been well backed in a thin 5-runner contest at Fontwell 3 weeks ago and work to do in this much stronger race.

Form: 14-6153

Non-Runners

Word Has It²⁶

Weight: 11-3| Age: 9

T: D McCain Jnr J: Theo Gillard

Forecasts

Bubble Dubi (18/5), Too Friendly (5/1), Whizz Kid (11/2), Aggagio (6/1), Word Has It (15/2), Big Boy Bobby (10/1), Takeit Easy (10/1), Fringill Dike (11/1), Castel Gandolfo (14/1), Nayati (16/1), Bashful Boy (20/1), Risk D'Argent (28/1), Galice Macalo (40/1), Cousu Main (50/1)

Any number to consider in a red-hot renewal of the final of this series but BUBBLE DUBI likely remains ahead of the handicapper after his Stratford success and has good claims in a race that should be run to suit his striking strong-travelling style. Too Friendly is very interesting back over 2m in first-time blinkers, while last year's second Castel Gandolfo is one to note at likely bigger odds.