Racecards
16:30 Haydock Park
Les Buckley 'fixed Brush' Handicap Hurdle (Class 4)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form P4706P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer K G Reveley
- Jockey P Kinsella
held up, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 3211P8
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey T J Dreaper
chased leaders, outpaced after 7th, stayed on from 2 out, kept on flat
A Bit of Fun
10- Form P22307
- Age 5
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer J T Stimpson
- Jockey J P McNamara
raced wide, mid-division, headway approaching 5th, every chance from 3 out until last, switshed tail and not quicken flat
- Form F54-1F2
- Age 10
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer S E H Sherwood
- Jockey J Tizzard
led after 1st, headed 3rd, led again 4th until after 7th, outpaced from 3 out, no danger after
- Form 39P71P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-10
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N D Fehily
chased leaders, led 3rd to 4th, weakened approaching 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 54662P
- Age 10
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer S Lycett
- Jockey M A Fitzgerald
mid-division, lost place after 3rd, soon behind
- Form 4-23337
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Antony Evans
led to after 1st, remained prominent, led after 7th, strongly pressed from 3 out, mistake 2 out, hard ridden after last, stayed on
Fighter Pilot
511- Form 40/3830-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer J J Best
- Jockey R Lucey-Butler
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened after 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Silk Trader
10- Form 1874-78
- Age 11
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey P McDonald
behind, stayed on from 2 out, never near leaders
- Form P0573F
- Age 9
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Mrs L C Taylor
- Jockey M Bradburne
prominent until ridden and weakened after 7th
Hutch
321- Form 36/341-0
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer Mrs L B Normile
- Jockey D Flavin
held up, pushed along and struggling from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
- Form 412001
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 103
- Trainer P C Haslam
- Jockey A P McCoy
held up towards rear, headway 5th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, weakened last
- Form 022156
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer P Beaumont
- Jockey D Elsworth
mid-division, not fluent 2nd, behind from 5th, tailed off when jumped left 3 out
- Form 31-8P24
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 102
- Trainer Miss Joanne Priest
- Jockey J M Maguire
took keen hold in touch, mistake 5th, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on to go 3rd when went left 2 out, one pace approaching last
- Form 9-4873P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer Miss S E Forster
- Jockey A Thornton
held up, reminder after 2nd, headway on outside 6th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Neidpath Castle
121- Form 935-5PP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 101
- Trainer A C Whillans
- Jockey E Whillans
held up, headway 7th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form P/4FPUP
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer K Bailey & M Nicholls
- Jockey Jimmy McCarthy
In depth
Verdict
Fox Point is confidently recommended although Old Feathers and Heavy Weather should provide stout opposition. Tony McCoy is always noted when riding for Pat Haslam and having previously lost his way in Ireland, Fox Point looked back to his best when scoring under Paddy Merrigan at Newcastle. There may be many runners in this race but plenty of deadwood and it would not take too much improvement for him to be up to this task. Old Feathers seems to have been around forever and Jonjo O'Neill's nine-year-old has to be a danger. Campaigned at listed level over hurdles, he showed that he retains his ability with victory at Uttoxeter in February. Noel Fehily can be expected to make the running this afternoon. Heavy Weather has shown ability in his starts under rules thus far. He ran much better than his recent finishing position suggests as he was hampered by a number of loose horses throughout the duration of the race. Seymar Lad has shown plenty of ability in the past but is not running at all well at present. Catch The Perk is exposed and could be up there early doors in the battle for the lead. Il'Athou is a classy chaser on his day and it could be that he takes to the brush hurdles off this significantly lower rating. A Bit Of Fun had little chance in an ultra-competitive race at Hereford and could be best of the rest. Fox Point gets the vote.
Formwatch
Powder Creek (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Executive Decision (11-9) at Leicester 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 11 ran.
Catch The Perk (IRE) 40-1 (9-11) Never better than finishing position, 8th of 16, 26l behind Ivoire De Beaulieu (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f hcp chs 0-150 (B) gs in Dec.
A Bit of Fun 25-1 (11-8) In touch, ridden 5th, weakened 2 out, 7th of 13, 23l behind Capitana (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Il'athou (FR) 7-2 (11-1) Led until 5th, ridden and switched left approaching 2 out, stayed on approaching last, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Bak To Bill (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar.
Old Feathers (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along 4th, ridden after next, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Gan Eagla (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Pardon What 5-2fav (11-5) In rear and pulled up at the 4th in race won by Bayadere (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (5) gd, 11 ran.
No Guarantees 8-1 (11-12) Held up, behind from 6th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Mayoun (9-8) at Chepstow 3m nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Fighter Pilot 8-1 (11-9) Moderate 2nd early, 4th 5 out, 5th and ridden next, no extra after 3 out, 8th when mistake last, 11th of 15, 41l behind Like-A-Butterfly (11-7) at Naas 2m beg chs sft in Nov '04.
Silk Trader 50-1 (11-0) In rear, some progress 5th, no further impression, 8th of 13, 25l behind Capitana (11-2) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Jaloux d'Estruval (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Fell 1st fell in race won by Brendar (11-6) at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
Hutch 16-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden to lead after 6th, headed approaching next, weakened quickly, 17th of 18, well behind Qabas (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gf in May.
Fox Point (USA) 7-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and kept on well flat, won at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Mar beating Nelson du Ronceray (10-13) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Seymar Lad (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders and not fluent, ridden and lost place from 3rd, never dangerous after, 6th of 9, 32l behind Harmony Brig (11-9) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Mar.
Heavy Weather (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Led, hampered by loose horse and headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next, 4th of 12, 19l behind Blaeberry (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Treasured Memories 9-2 (10-3) Held up, in rear when badly hampered 1st, tailed off when pulled up at the 2nd in race won by Habitual Dancer (11-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Mar, 9 ran.
Neidpath Castle 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, lost pace when hampered 3 out pulled up 3 out in race won by River Mist (11-0) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Dec, 17 ran.
Predestine (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 4th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by In Accord (11-7) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs, 18 ran.
Balasari (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden after 5th, tailed off on next pulled up 4 out in race won by Extra Smooth (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Mar, 8 ran.