Racecards
12:10 Haydock Park
Read Paul Nicholls Exclusively On Betfair Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 7 Runners
- Distance: 1m 7f 144y
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £12,996
- 2nd: £3,816
- 3rd: £1,908
- 4th: £954
- Form 135/311-
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Adam Wedge
tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden after last, kept on well
- Form 143044-
- Age 7
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 126
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in touch, raced wide from 6 out until 4 out, left 3rd from last, one pace
- Form 2231P-4
- Age 5
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
always towards rear, weakened before 3 out
Verni (FR)
30- Form 342/31-1
- Age 7
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner before 2 out, kept on and no impression
- Form 434F4-0
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
tracked leaders, raced wide from 6 out until chased winner from 4 out, disputing 3rd and looking one pace when jumped left and stumbled and unseated rider last
- Form 020-P43
- Age 10
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey Brian Harding
in rear, raced wide from 6 out until 4 out, pushed along and weakened before 3 out, pulled up
- Form 427255-
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 106
- Trainer B Leavy
- Jockey Harry Challoner
led, headed 4 out, weakened before next
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Much will depend on how much rain falls on the track as to the outcome of all races but CLYNE has already proved his ability to handle both soft and heavy conditions and has a strong chance if all is well on his first run for 280 days. He rates a major improver on the evidence of his last two winning starts. Verni has a fitness advantage and should also handle conditions whatever they may be and looks the obvious danger on the back of a comfortable Newton Abbot success last time and is another going the right way. Ifandbutwhynot is potentially well handicapped on his best form but Baratineur makes more appeal as a shortlist candidate as he remains very much open to improvement for Nicky Henderson.
Formwatch
Clyne 4-1 (11-12) Mid-division, closed after 3rd, jumped left and not fluent next, mistake 3 out, led and wandered next, clear from last, easily, won at Warwick 2m hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Catchin Time (10-11) by 11l, 11 ran.
Baby King (IRE) 3-1jfav (11-12) In touch in 4th, went 3rd from 3 out, no extra run-in, 4th of 8, 16 3/4l behind Banyu (11-8) at Perth 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Baratineur (FR) 3-1fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace before last, 4th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Mountainside (10-5) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Verni (FR) 2-1fav (11-7) Tracked front pair from after 2nd, hit 3 out, soon went 2nd, led next, driven clear when not fluent last, kept on, won at Newton Abbot 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Wolftrap (10-13) by 3l, 4 ran.
Sleepy Haven (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Behind, outpaced 4 out, blundered and went left next, soon weakened, 13th of 14, 35 1/4l behind Ballyoptic (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Ifandbutwhynot (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up in 4th, closed before 3 out, pressed for 2nd from 2 out, no impression on winner flat, stayed on, 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Jacks Last Hope (11-7) at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Akula (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Prominent, led 2nd, headed 7th, not fluent 3 out, weakened flat, 5th of 7, 10 3/4l behind Apache Outlaw (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f (5) sft in Mar.