14:30 Haydock

Saturday 23 November 2024

All12:0812:4013:1513:5014:3015:0515:40

Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 36.10s

Twig^p1²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 143| D

22/1

Did really well back chasing last season, including second in Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival. Reverted to hurdles for Wetherby reappearance and finished a fine second in a 3m Wetherby Grade 2. Runs off the same mark as the Ultima. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 12025-2

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Shoot First²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 139| D

22/1

Useful performance to win a 3m Cheltenham handicap in October 2022. Not seen again until fifth of 10 at Galway 4 weeks ago, shaping as if retaining all his ability. It'll be interesting to see if there's money for him with that outing under his belt.

Form: 41281/5

Kerryhill³⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 137| D

17/2

Irish point winner who was very progressive in novice hurdles last winter, making it 2-3 with smooth Doncaster Grade 2 success (3m, good) in January. Surely more to come this season and much respected on handicap debut.

Form: 21/141-

Gwennie May Boy²²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton| OR: 137

11/1

Made it 3-3 for Dan Skelton with a useful performance to land a competitive staying handicap at the Aintree Grand National meeting in April. A further 11 lb rise demands further progress but no shock were he to find it.

Form: 4/1P111-

Push The Button²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

17/2

Progressive in bumpers and 2-3 in novice hurdles at up to 21f last autumn. Off 11 months, creditable fifth of 13 in handicap at Cheltenham (2½m) 4 weeks ago and shapes as if this step up to 3m will suit him.

Form: 51/141-5

Jody Ted³³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Mark McDonagh⁽³⁾| T: E Griffin| OR: 130| BF| D

33/1

Better than ever with chase and handicap hurdle wins last autumn but off since unseating just before halfway in a valuable handicap chase at last year's Leopardstown Christmas meeting.

Form: 2F2/11U-

Zain Nights^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 130| BF| CD

14/1

Useful stayer on the Flat for Harry & Roger Charlton and fast heading that way over hurdles, completing a handicap hat-trick in a big-field race over C&D in May. Returned with a good third of 12 at Cheltenham 4 weeks ago. Another who can't be discounted.

Form: 1411-13

Ottizzini²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Brian Hayes| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 129| D

28/1

Won maiden/novice events at up to 3m last season and back on the up when landing a 3m Ayr handicap 3 weeks ago. A 7 lb rise looks fair enough but this is a much tougher race.

Form: P124-71

The Imposter^t,v³⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 125| D

40/1

Made it a remarkable 9 wins in 10 starts when seeing off 5 rivals at Chepstow (3m, heavy) last December. Not seen since, though, and this is a very hard race in which to return from an absence in.

Form: 111/111-

Backmersackme⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 125| D

14/1

Point/bumper winner who has shown promise over hurdles and on the Flat since. Unexposed type for a trainer with a strong record in good handicaps, including a win in this race last year.

Form: 116-644

Castle Rushen^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards| OR: 125

33/1

Finally came good in a handicap when shading a tight finish on his 2½m Carlisle reappearance 3 weeks ago. Only raised 3 lb but it'll probably be enough to stop him in this stronger race.

Form: 23/756-1

Phantomofthepoints²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 124

22/1

Posted a fairly useful effort when a wide-margin winner of a Chepstow novice (2m, soft) in April. Not disgraced when sixth of 13 on handicap debut at Ayr (2m) later that month and now steps up markedly in trip for his reappearance in a race the yard is no stranger to success in.

Form: 226216-

Catch Him Derry²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| D

9/2

Improving type who made it 3-4 in handicaps when scoring hard held on his 21.5f Newton Abbot reappearance at the end of October. Raised another 7 lb but there's almost certainly more to come. Part of a strong hand for his stable.

Form: 33121-1

One Big Bang²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Calum Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 124| CD

11/4

Maiden in Ireland but 2-2 around 3m for James Owen in the spring, including a C&D handicap. Improved again when second under a double penalty in 21.5f Newton Abbot novice on his return 24 days ago. The step back up in trip will suit and looks on a good mark for his very much in-form yard.

Form: 34P11-2

Patriotik⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 120| D

7/1

Point winner who opened Rules account in a 2½m Ffos Las novice in March. Made a sound start to his handicap career after a break when fifth of 17 in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow (19.5f) 6 weeks ago. Unexposed now stepping up to 3m for a stable which knows what it takes to win this.

Form: 2132-25

Non-Runners

Doyen Quest⁷

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

One Big Bang (11/4), Doyen Quest (11/4), Catch Him Derry (9/2), Patriotik (7/1), Kerryhill (17/2), Push The Button (17/2), Gwennie May Boy (11/1), Backmersackme (14/1), Zain Nights (14/1), Shoot First (22/1), Phantomofthepoints (22/1), Twig (22/1), Ottizzini (28/1), Castle Rushen (33/1), Jody Ted (33/1), The Imposter (40/1)

James Owen denied Dan Skelton in a valuable handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last weekend and history may repeat itself, with ONE BIG BANG, who will be well suited by the return to 3m, taken to see off progressive Skelton pair Doyen Quest and Catch Him Derry. Returning Grade 2 novice hurdle winner Kerryhill is another very interesting runner.