Racecards
16:15 Haydock Park
Walrus Hunters' Chase (Class H)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Form 0P-1123
- Age 11
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer S Flook
- Jockey Mr D Mansell
in touch, mistake 10th, ridden 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 1U6-433
- Age 11
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer R Tate
- Jockey Mrs F Needham
held up, headway 8th, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching last, one pace flat
- Form 11431-P
- Age 11
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer K Goldsworthy
- Jockey Mr G Barber
held up, headway 5th, mistake 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Parsons Boy
469- Form P41/12P-
- Age 14
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer P Morris
- Jockey Mr C J B Barlow
behind from 7th
- Form 6/641P2-
- Age 13
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer S Wynne
- Jockey Mr C Stockton
prominent, hard ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 2P/2131-
- Age 12
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Miss P Gundry
led, ridden 3 out, headed approaching last, led again flat, headed and no extra towards finish
Irish Sea (USA)
294- Form PPP413-
- Age 10
- Weight 12-2
- Trainer S Flook
- Jockey Mr M Trott
behind, hampered 2nd, blundered next, ridden when fell 12th
High Mood
447- Form 21644/4-
- Age 13
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer Mrs J Wall
- Jockey Mr S Prior
tracked leaders, lost place when hampered 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form PPP-442
- Age 12
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey Mr T Greenall
behind, steady headway 10th, ridden to lead approaching last, headed flat, rallied to lead again towards finsih
- Form U3-1463
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Trainer K R Burke
- Jockey Mr F M Hanley
mid-division, headway when blundered and unseated rider 8th
In depth
Verdict
A decent hunter chase featuring the first and third home in last season's Christie's Foxhunter Chase with preference over this shorter trip for the Paul Nicholls-trained Torduff Express who finished a length adrift of Last Option at Cheltenham. The selection subsequently went on to win the Martell Fox Hunters' Chase over the National fences at Aintree and, over a similar trip, he may have too much speed for his Festival conqueror. Fiona Needham's mount has failed to reproduce his best form this season although the 11-year-old is probably being aimed at Cheltenham again. Mr Dow Jones, three times a winner in hunter chase company last term, and the 13-year-old Step On Eyre are others to consider along with Epsilo De La Ronce and Master Wood but, if fit enough for his reappearance, this really should go to Polly Gundry's mount.