Racecards
16:55 Haydock Park
Sporting Index Handicap Chase (Class 2)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £25,000 added
- Form 864115
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 147
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey T Scudamore
in rear, not fluent 4th (water) soon pushed along, blundered 6th, ridden 3 out, kept on to take 3rd flat
- Form 401071
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer J M Jefferson
- Jockey T J Dreaper
led to 3rd, remained prominent, led after 4 out, 4 lenghs clear 2 out, not fluent last, headed flat, no extra towards finish
- Form 22521F
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey B P Harding
prominent, led 4th (water) headed after 4 out, weakened next
- Form 7-35212
- Age 6
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Stephen Craine
held up, headway to chase leader apporaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on well towards finish
- Form 932111
- Age 7
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer J Parkinson & S Smith
- Jockey Tjade Collier
prominent, led from 3rd to 4th, in touch when slowly jumped 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
In depth
Verdict
Bohemian Spirit can land the finale with Calatagan and Flake the obvious dangers. The selection hails from a yard in top form and although he fell last time at Sandown, he had shown enough previously to make him the one to beat here. If his confidence has not been dented by that fall then he should be good enough to land the spoils. Calatagan dug deep to beat Coat Of Honour at Wetherby back in December but this looks more competitive and on that basis he is opposed. Flake has won his last three races in good style and he does go very well for this young rider Tjade Collier. He is creeping up the weights but he is entitled to run a big race. Madison Du Berlais is another from a yard in form and could go well at a price, but Bohemian Spirit can get back to winning ways and gets our vote.
Formwatch
Madison Du Berlais (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 12, 16l behind Dempsey (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Calatagan (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Made all, challenged 3 out, soon ridden, edged right and kept on towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec beating Coat of Honour (11-8) by 2l, 7 ran.
Bohemian Spirit (IRE) 9-1 (10-2) Chased leaders until fell at the 5th in race won by Dempsey (11-10) at Sandown 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs, 12 ran.
Regal Heights (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Chased winner, blundered 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 4, 17l behind My Way de Solzen (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan.
Flake 5-4fav (11-12) Always prominent, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well, won at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov beating Moorlaw (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.