Racecards
16:45 Haydock Park
Peter Foden Family Charitable Trust Novices' Handicap Chase (Class 2)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 4f
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- £18,000 added
- Form 410-512
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey S P Jones
tracked winner on inner, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened and lost 2nd place final 100 yards
- Form 41-2F1F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey P J Brennan
made all, blundered badly 4th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well
- Form 334-141
- Age 8
- Weight 11-11
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer Miss E C Lavelle
- Jockey Jack Doyle
held up in rear on inner, not fluent 4 out, soon chasing leaders and blundered next, weakened after last
- Form 321-21F
- Age 6
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey J M Maguire
tracked leaders in 3rd on outer, reminder after 6th, reminders after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd last 100 yards, no impression on winner
- Form 506115
- Age 6
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 124
held up, in touch in 4th, blundered 10th, ridden and weakend after 4 out, tailed off
- Form 10-066
- Age 6
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer F Doumen
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
held up in rear, pushed along and weakened after 4 out, pulled before 2 out, tailed off
In depth
Verdict
LITTLE JOSH is put forwards despite concerns about his jumping; Doctor Pat, Ernst Blofeld and Edgbriar all have to be feared. The selection should be ideally suited by the testing conditions and the front-running gelding may be able to stretch this field if he can get into a good rhythm. He fell at the first in a competitive handicap at Kempton but his earlier efforts read well enough and he should be at home in this company. Doctor Pat's run of good form came to an end at Cheltenham in a race where Edgbriar finished second and Ernst Blofeld fell. Paul Webber's gelding is just 1lb higher which is more than fair but the French raider may well have finished closer but for a mistake three from home and could well reverse the form. Ernst Blofeld was still travelling well when falling and should be a threat to all if that fall hasn't left a mark. Suntini lowered the colours of Tataniano last time but he's paid the price for that with a 16lb rise in his mark and he could be vulnerable as a result whilst Moneywise has plenty to prove. There's little to choose between the runners in this field but the vote is given to Little Josh.
Formwatch
Edgbriar (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Led until narrowly headed 5th, chased leader, led again 9th, ridden and joined 2 out, soon headed, no chance with winner, clear 2nd best, 2nd of 11, 10l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-130 (2) sft in Jan.
Little Josh (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up until fell 1st, in a race won by Fortification (10-4) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Suntini (GER) 14-1 (11-4) Held up behind leading pair, chased leader 9th, upsides and going best when hit last, driven and stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won at Newbury 2m 2f nov stks (3) sft in Jan beating Tataniano (11-8) by 1/2l, 3 ran.
Ernst Blofeld (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) In touch until blundered and fell 8th, in a race won by Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-130 (2) sft in Jan, 11 ran.
Doctor Pat (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Held up in rear, making steady headway and travelling okay behind leaders when blundered 3 out, not recover, 5th of 11, 36l behind Hey Big Spender (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-130 (2) sft in Jan.
Moneywise (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Jumped left, held up, blundered 2nd, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 7, well behind Call Me A Legend (10-12) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.