13:30 Haydock

Saturday 29 April 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:4516:2016:55

Giants Hall Handicap

Off time: 13:32 | Winning time: 2m 13.39s

(1)

Blistering Barney²¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: P Mathers| T: C N Kellett| OR: 81| D

22/1

Hit the target 3 times, including a Class 2 Nottingham handicap (1¾m, good) when last seen in September. Eased in grade for this seasonal reappearance but now finds himself on a career-high mark and couldn't be sure that this drop back in trip will be a good thing.

Form: 535181-

(2)

Thunder Max³⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: K Stott| T: R Hannon| OR: 80

4/1

Yet to add to Doncaster 2-y-o debut success but didn't do a great deal wrong in several decent handicaps at up to 11f early last season. Gelded during the winter and eased 2 lb since last seen, so he could have a part to play if fully tuned-up following 11 months off.

Form: 15/3534-

(5)

Splendent^t1¹⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Cieren Fallon| T: P & O Cole| OR: 80| D

7/1

Newcastle maiden winner at 2 yrs and positive start to last season when runner-up on handicap debut at Windsor (1¼m, good to firm). Failed to build on that both subsequent starts in 2022, though, and needs to get back on track in a first-time tongue strap.

Form: 421/250-

(6)

Arcadian Nights²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Billy Loughnane⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 79| D

12/1

Successful 3 times on the AW since the turn of the year and latest narrow Wolverhampton (9.5f) success represented a career-best. More on his plate here but only gone up 2 lb and no surprise if he's on the premises.

Form: 4-15161

(12)

Sea Grey¹⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79| D

10/1

Promise both starts for Andrew Balding but failed to make an impact in a couple of handicaps for new yard towards the end of last year. Improvement needed now switched to turf.

Form: 1/336-

(4)

Innse Gall⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 79| D

5/1

Pretty consistent on the whole last year, winning twice, and positive start to this season when chasing home an unexposed William Haggas-trained rival at Newcastle (10.2f). 1 lb nudge for that easy to swallow and he has to enter calculations.

Form: 13134-2

(8)

Eeetee¹²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Rossa Ryan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78| D

17/2

Successful at Redcar and York at around this trip last season, and good fourth in a big-field handicap back at the latter course in October. Below par both starts on the AW during the winter and possibilities off a fair mark now returned to turf.

Form: 110457-

(9)

Magical Mile^v²²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Luke Catton⁽⁵⁾| T: I Mohammed| OR: 77| D

22/1

Bagged 4 handicaps in 2020, including twice over this trip at Windsor and Ffos Las during the summer. Well held when last seen at York in September, though, and probably a shade too high in the weights.

Form: 816619-

(3)

Highwaygrey¹⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 77| CD

20/1

Regained the winning thread off 1 lb lower at Ayr (1¼m, good) last August but he hits the target infrequently nowadays and was beaten a fair way on the AW when last seen in November.

Form: 317530-

(10)

Arctic Fox²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: D Nolan| T: M Todhunter| OR: 76| C| D

18/1

Back-to-back winner of handicaps at up to 1¾m here last summer. Ended 2022 campaign on a downer but resumes on a workable mark (1 lb higher than for her latest success) and couldn't rule out.

Form: 114597-

(13)

Tele Red¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Richard Oliver| T: K R Burke| OR: 72| D

12/1

Bagged handicaps over this trip at Pontefract and Beverley last season and also hit the crossbar on several occasions. Excuses when down the field at Newcastle on final start of that campaign and he's one to consider.

Form: 612120-

(11)

Typical Woman²⁰¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 70

5/1

Sole success to date was gained in an AW novice event in October 2021. Still, she performed well on a number of occasions in handicaps last year, including on each of her 3 visits to this course, and a bold show could be on the way.

Form: 283526-

(7)

Red Derek¹³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-4| J: A Elliott| T: L Williamson| OR: 61| CD

33/1

Snapped a losing run accounting for 13 rivals at Doncaster (1¼m, heavy) in October. By no means disgraced both subsequent efforts on the AW but the main worry here is his lack of a recent run (record when fresh doesn't augur well).

Form: 752154-

Forecasts

Thunder Max (4/1), Innse Gall (5/1), Typical Woman (5/1), Splendent (7/1), Eeetee (17/2), Sea Grey (10/1), Arcadian Nights (12/1), Tele Red (12/1), Arctic Fox (18/1), Highwaygrey (20/1), Magical Mile (22/1), Blistering Barney (22/1), Red Derek (33/1)

This looks wide open and it could be worth chancing TYPICAL WOMAN, who made the frame on each of her 3 visits here in 2022 and resumes on an attractive mark. Thunder Max has been absent for the best part of a year but he too returns to action on an appealing mark and will be a danger to all if ready to roll. Tele Red did well last season and should have a part to play, while Innse Gall is also shortlisted on the back of a solid reappearance effort on the all-weather.