14:05 Haydock

Saturday 30 March 2024

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

My Pension Expert Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 3m 48.7s

Brentford Hope^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 140| C| D

5/2

Bordering on smart on Flat and easily bagged a third success over hurdles for current yard in a Newbury handicap in November. Posted 2 excellent efforts back over same C&D prior to resuming winning ways with a career best in 6-runner handicap at Newcastle (16.9f) 2 weeks ago. Sure to go well again.

Form: 1-61321

Playful Saint^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134| BF| D

18/5

Lightly-raced 9-y-o who returned better than ever when neck second of 5 to Milldam in handicap hurdle at Stratford (16.3f, heavy) 19 days ago. Conditions in his favour and seems likely to make another bold bid.

Form: 1/4213-2

Holly²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 122

20/1

Hasn't stood much racing but had been given a chance by the handicapper and, back under less testing conditions, ran out an impressive winner of 6-runner handicap at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to soft) in January. Easy to back and failed to repeat that effort at Plumpton, though.

Form: 38-8514

The Churchill Lad^h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies| OR: 121| CD

11/2

Dual juvenile hurdle winner who struck again in 2m Haydock handicap in the mud in December and has run well on 2 of his 3 subsequent starts, including when fourth of 17 in Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso (16.2f) last time.

Form: 721324

Salsada¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 120| C

12/1

Useful Flat/hurdles winner who looked rusty returning from 10 months off when tailed off in the Morebattle Hurdle Stepped up on that run when 11¾ third of 6 to Brentford Hope at Newcastle last time, though is still to fully confirm the form of her Doncaster Grade 2 second.

Form: 22/25-03

Ballygeary^p²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 118| D

6/1

4-time hurdle winner who shaped as if still in good form in first-time cheekpieces when seventh of 17 in Morebattle Hurdle (Handicap) at Kelso (16.2f) 4 weeks ago, short of room from 2 out. Not taken lightly.

Form: 0-31257

Mr Mackay²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113

15/2

Off the marks over hurdles at the second time of asking in 6-runner Huntingdon maiden (19.5f) in October. Brushed off a rare poor effort when runner-up in a Hereford handicap in January and ran to a similar level when finding only one too good again at Plumpton last time. 1 lb out of the weights.

Form: 154922

Three Cliffs Bay³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110| D

20/1

Left hurdles debut behind when winning a 2m Ffos Las novice (heavy) in November. Respectable efforts on 2 of his 3 starts since but needs a bit more from 4 lb out of the weights.

Form: 7-61374

El Jefe^h,t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A B Hamilton| OR: 109| C

18/1

Better than ever this season, completing a hat-trick at this course (18.9f) in December. Resumed winning ways at Sedgefield earlier in the month and found only an unexposed one too good at Bangor (16.7f) last week. 5 lb out of the weights but likely to give his running once more.

Form: 143812

Non-Runners

Milldam¹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: Jamie Snowden J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Brentford Hope (5/2), Playful Saint (18/5), Milldam (5/1), The Churchill Lad (11/2), Ballygeary (6/1), Mr Mackay (15/2), Salsada (12/1), El Jefe (18/1), Holly (20/1), Three Cliffs Bay (20/1)

BRENTFORD HOPE has got several very solid recent efforts on the clock to his name and, with this track likely to lend itself well to his strong-travelling style, he makes plenty of appeal off top weight. Playful Saint returned better than ever from a year-long absence when narrowly denied by the reopposing Milldam at Stratford recently and ought to go well again with conditions in his favour. Ballygeary and the aforementioned Milldam warrant respect, also.