Racecards
13:40 Haydock Park
Freephone Stanleybet Swinton Handicap Hurdle (Class A) (Grade 3) (Class A)
- 19 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Good
- Form 3/P6533-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on one pace
- Form 1/3P505-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-10
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
mid-division, ridden 5th, no impression
- Form 053004-
- Age 10
- Weight 10-6
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
soon mid-division, ridden 5th, soon weakened
Tysou (FR)
30- Form F2305P-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-4
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out
- Form 121450-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 13P/221-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey Mr O Nelmes
held up, hit 3rd, never troubled leaders
Dancing Bay
30- Form 0/16010-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
mid-division, headway 4th, ridden 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
- Form 012221-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Mrs J Harrington
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
mid-division, headway 5th, led approaching last, ran on
- Form 0/20111-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer C Tinkler
- Jockey Dave Crosse
mid-divsion, lost place 4th, no danger after
Almaydan
25- Form 42121-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer R Lee
- Jockey M Bradburne
chased leaders, led 5th, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra towards finish
- Form 0101-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey G Lee
in touch, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 511P4/1-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer Noel T Chance
- Jockey T Doyle
mid-division, mistake and lost place 1st, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, weakened last
- Form P12/3-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer John Berry
- Jockey J Culloty
behind, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, never nearer
- Form 6/11312-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey Stephen Craine
behind, headway 5th, not clear run when switched and hung left approaching 2 out, stayed on flat
Valeureux
32- Form F2P312-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Trainer J Hetherton
- Jockey James Davies
with leader, led 3rd to 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
The presence of Martin Pipe's Westender, and stablemate Copeland, at the top of the handicapper ensure that the Swinton should be less competitive than the numbers suggest with only a third of the field in the weights proper and the vote goes to Demi Beau. Although 2lbs "wrong" Charlie Mann's gelding has every chance at the weights judged by his unlucky defeat at Aintree last time, when still there with every chance when falling at the final flight in the race won by Puck Out. The stable's horses remain in good form and, in receipt of so much weight from Westender, he gets the vote. Tony McCoy's mount looked as though he was feeling the effects of some hard races when third to Hasty Prince at Sandown last week and preference among the Pipe runners is for Copeland, who won the Scottish Champion Hurdle in some style last time. Philip Hobbs- team are not in the best form of their lives at present so In Contrast is probably best watched, along with The French Furze, who shows his best in the winter months. Among the other horses in the handicap proper, Tysou has lost his way in recent seasons, the four-year-old Howle Hill faces a stiff task against seasoned campaigners and Tik-A-Tai needs to improve again. Colin Tinkler's Smart Savannah was a progressive performer last term but this looks his toughest assignment to date and of more interest may be Dalaram, who hails from an in-form yard and could have further improvement in him. The vote though goes to Demi Beau, who is taken to atone for his defeat at Aintree.