Racecards
14:15 Haydock Park
Tommy Whittle Chase (Class A)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Soft
- Form 124/13-3
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer M Todhunter
- Jockey D R Dennis
always behind, lost touch from 10th, soon tailed off
Ryalux (IRE)
42- Form 12231-6
- Age 10
- Weight 11-6
tracked leader, pushed along 12th, weakened next
- Form 3F132-4
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey D N Russell
tracked leaders, hit 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
- Form F1115-P
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in touch, headway 12th, went 2nd 4 out, led approaching 2 out, clear approaching last, impressive
Chives (IRE)
252- Form 3/2220P-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Miss H Knight
- Jockey J Culloty
in touch, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
- Form 252P-F2
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer P Beaumont
- Jockey R Garritty
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
- Form 6P1P0/0-
- Age 9
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey C Sharkey
held up, lost touch from 10th, soon tailed off, pulled upo before last
In depth
Verdict
A tremendous line up for the Tommy Whittle Chase in which our vote goes to Hussard Collonges over Truckers Tavern and Kingsmark. The selection has not won since landing the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in 2002 but has run some very good races in defeat, notably when second in the following season's Charlie Hall Chase and when second in the Peter Marsh Chase, over today's course and distance, when a two-and-a-half-length second to Truckers Tavern, although Ferdy Murphy's gelding was in receipt of 15lbs. Admittedly, Truckers Tavern then ran a blinder when second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he is possibly more of a staying type and Hussard Collonges might have the edge on him today. Add into the mix Kingsmark, a triple course and distance winner but behind Hussard Collonges on his reappearance run over today's course and distance on 16 November - and he was also runner-up in this race two years ago; the Scottish National winner Ryalux; last season's Welsh National runner-up, Chives, who has a bit to find with Kingsmark on last season's Edward Hanmer form over course and distance; and the highly promising second-season chaser Keen Leader, then you have a race to savour. The last-named could go all the way to the top but, unfortunately, often spoils things with some careless leaps. If he ever gets it all together he will be a top-class runner but, for today, we'll stick with Hussard Collonges, whose trainer Peter Beaumont won this race in 1999 with Bobby Grant.