Racecards
15:15 Haydock Park
Red Square Vodka 'Fixed Brush' 'NH' Novices' Hurdle (Class D )
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
Birdwatch
20- Form 3235-60
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey A Thornton
always towards rear, hit 4th, tailed off from 4 out
Box On (IRE)
210- Form PP/P1-2
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss V Scott
- Jockey Christian Williams
towards rear, ridden 3 out, kept on from next
- Form 2/02
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey D Elsworth
tracked leaders, weakened 3 out
- Form FR10-
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey B Fenton
led to 2nd, ridden 3 out, blundered next when weakening
- Form 044-0
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey J P McNamara
held up, effort 3 out, soon weakened, behind when fell
Lambrini Mist
300- Form 300/P11-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs L Williamson
- Jockey O McPhail
mid-division, tailed off from 5th
- Form 44-
- Age 4
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey A Dobbin
held up, ridden 3f out, weakened next
- Form 4/3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
mid-division, lost place approaching 5th, ridden after 4 out, soon behind and pulled up
- Form 6-24106
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 90
- Trainer T H Caldwell
- Jockey D O'Meara
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, kept on to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner
Pollensa Bay
13- Form P6PP-20
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer S A Brookshaw
- Jockey J M Maguire
in touch, tailed off from 6th
- Form 1/12-50
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer R T Phillips
- Jockey W Marston
tracked leader, led after 1st, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace and lost 2nd close home
Reel Missile
20- Form 12-12
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer C T Pogson
- Jockey A Pogson
tracked leaders and keen, jumped right from 5th, weakened after 2 out
Special Conquest
253- Form 1/0323-
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer J W Mullins
- Jockey R Young
towards rear, ridden 3 out, some headway next, never dangerous
Thames (IRE)
14- Form 34/3P-3
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey M Foley
in touch, went 2nd 3 out, led next, blundered last, clear flat, eased towards finish
- Form PF2-214
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer Mrs L B Normile
- Jockey D Flavin
tracked leaders, weakened from 3 out
In depth
Verdict
In the finale, Thames gets the vote over Special Conquest, Reel Missile, Michaels Joy and Cool Cossack. Thames has very solid bumper and hurdling form, and finished a respectable third of four on his seasonal return at Aintree last time, a run that should have brought him on a good deal. Special Conquest has been placed on all three hurdling starts, including twice here, and he warrants plenty of respect. Reel Missile was a useful bumper performer and showed plenty of promise on his hurdling debut when second to Investment Affair here over two miles. Michaels Joy made an encouraging hurdling debut here over two miles last time, with Miss Cospector held on that form, and should improve over this longer trip. Given that Cool Cossack was two-and-a-half lengths ahead of him that day, he too comes into the reckoning. Of the others, Leading Man has shaped with promise in bumpers, Box On appeared to defy expectations when second at Hexham on his British debut and he too is worthy of some consideration, but Perth bumper winner Trisons Star will need to improve a lot on his hurdling debut run to pay a part here. Overall, though, we are happy to side with Thames.