Racecards
14:35 Haydock Park
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (qualifier) (Class 2)
- 20 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 110y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Form 61311/P
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 159
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey N P Madden
mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, no impression
- Form P2P-550
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 152
- Trainer F Doumen
- Jockey Jacques Ricou
chased leaders, led approaching 2 out, driven out
- Form PP-0F52
- Age 12
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 137
chased leaders, weakened after 4 out
- Form P90-141
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer A King
- Jockey R Thornton
mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 9-46868
- Age 8
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Tony Evans
held up mid-division, lost place 7th
Monolith
116- Form 086P6-1
- Age 9
- Weight 10-2
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer L Lungo
- Jockey B P Harding
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, kept on same pace from next
- Form FP-8P36
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer J Howard Johnson
- Jockey P J Brennan
behind when blundered 3rd, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
- Form P/F6P-22
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Paul Benson
mid-division, ridden approaching 7th, soon weakened
- Form 459554
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer Gerard Cully
- Jockey Andrew Tinkler
held up towards rear, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened
- Form 46P573
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Stephen Craine
chased leader, led after 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, mistake last, kept on under pressure, always held
- Form 32P-11P
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey B Fenton
chased leaders, weakened 7th
Helm (IRE)
61- Form 35/27-11
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey P Merrigan
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
- Form 7/35466
- Age 8
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey R McGrath
mid-division, lost place approaching 7th
- Form 767334
- Age 13
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey G Lee
behind, stayed on from 3 out, never dangerous
- Form F1U112
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
mid-division, headway 7th, stayed on from 2 out
Mith Hill
65- Form 130-813
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer Ian Williams
- Jockey P C O'Neill
mid-division, weakened after 4 out
- Form 00-018P
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Ferdy Murphy
- Jockey P McDonald
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, no impression
- Form 1/1-P143
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey P A Carberry
towards rear, ridden and headway 3 out, one pace from next
- Form 15FB62
- Age 11
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Tjade Collier
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
- Form 13-P221
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey James Reveley
led, not fluent 8th, headed after next, weakening when hit 3 out
- Form 3-22438
- Age 5
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 110
Nonrunner
In depth
Verdict
This is a competitive renewal of the Pertemps handicap hurdle and Abragante edges the vote over Rowley Hill, Monolith and The Bajan Bandit. The selection was a decent second behind Celtic Major at Wincanton last time and we think he can go one better here. He has his ground and the stable are in flying form and he looks the one to beat. Rowley Hill responded well to the first time blinkers when winning well last time but it remains to be seen whether they will be as effective here and with his stable struggling for winners he is best opposed today. Monolith won well at Cheltenham last time and he remains open to further improvement. He should be suited by the step-up in trip and is definitely considered. The Bajan Bandit ran well enough last time when chasing home Cornish Rebel and the drop in trip is a major plus for him. Paperprophet is from a yard in form and is not without hope, but Abragante makes most appeal and gets our vote.
Formwatch
Rhinestone Cowboy (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, weakened from 4 out and pulled up at the last in race won by United (10-1) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Millenium Royal (FR) 66-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 14th of 17, well behind Halcon Genelardais (10-2) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
The Bajan Bandit (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Raced in 3rd, closed 12th, led 13th to 17th, regained lead 3 out, ridden and headed last, one pace flat, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Cornish Rebel (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy in Jan.
Rowley Hill 10-3fav (10-1) Held up in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, led approaching last, ridden out, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan beating The Last Cast (9-9) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Mistanoora 10-1 (11-12) Raced wide, held up in rear, not fluent 6th, brief effort on wide outside before 2 out, soon outpaced, 8th of 10, 26l behind Just Beth (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Monolith 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway when hampered after 2 out, rallied and challenged last, led flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct beating Emotional Article (10-9) by 1/2l, 19 ran.
Julius Caesar 6-1 (11-12) Led, ridden after 4 out, headed before next, weakened 2 out, 6th of 8, 27l behind Laertes (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Paperprophet 4-1 (11-12) Towards rear, effort, chance 3 out, outpaced next, rallied after last, stayed on well flat to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind According To Pete (10-5) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (4) gd in May.
Arc En Ciel (GER) 13-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, soon poor 5th, closed 4 out, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace straight, 4th of 9, 11l behind Moore's Law (11-6) at Cork 2m hdl hvy in Jan.
Hirvine (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led before next, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Laertes (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Tana River (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, lost place, headway 14th, ridden next, weakened and pulled up at the 16th in race won by Ladalko (11-1) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Helm (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Held up behind, smooth headway approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec beating Manawanui (10-9) by 16l, 9 ran.
Hautclan (FR) 7-2fav (11-5) In rear, pushed along from 10th, hampered 11th, behind from 19th, 6th of 10, 37l behind Garryvoe (11-1) at Stratford 4m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Carlys Quest 9-1 (11-9) In rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on well from next, never nearer, 4th of 8, 18l behind Laertes (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Abragante (IRE) 13-8fav (11-8) Held up last, steady headway from 7th, ridden and every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Celtic Major (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
Mith Hill 11-2 (11-9) Chased winner, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd, held when hit last, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Private Be (11-9) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Spring Breeze 9-1 (11-8) Close up until lost place 4th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Tomenoso (10-10) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Christdalo (IRE) Evensfav (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 8th, chased winner approaching 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 11, 26l behind Very Special One (10-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Darina's Boy 10-1 (10-4) Mid-division, headway 9th, ridden 3 out, switched right approaching last, stayed on flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Allistathebarrista (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Dec.
El Andaluz (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Made all, clear 3 out, eased flat, won at Newcastle 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jan beating Jimmy Bond (10-13) by 13l, 12 ran.
John Forbes 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, led 5th until approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 10, 21l behind Burntoakboy (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.