Racecards
14:05 Haydock Park
William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m 58y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £30,000 added
- Winner: £17,085
- 2nd: £6,411
- 3rd: £3,210
- 4th: £1,599
- Form 2/614-23
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
slightly worse than midfield, dropped to last after 6th, pushed before 7th, some progress before 3 out where mistake, soon ridden, well beaten before jumping last
- Form 9F31-47
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 159
- Trainer Miss R Curtis
- Jockey S Bowen
contested lead, hampered slightly 1st and sat 2nd, led 8th, squeezed before 3 out and quickened, ridden after last and headed, rallied late on
- Form 1111-17
- Age 8
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 154
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Fergus Gillard
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, hit 4 out and pushed, ridden after 3 out and some progress, kept on without threatening
- Form 31-1221
- Age 9
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey James Bowen
slightly better than midfield, progress to track leader after 4 out, pushed before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on gamely without getting to front pair
- Form 401-P06
- Age 11
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 158
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Jordan Nailor
tracked leading pair, outpaced and pushed after 4 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out, beaten jumping 2 out
- Form 35/2P-67
- Age 12
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
contested lead, jumped left 1st but definite advantage, headed 8th and ridden, soon weakened after 4 out, tailed off jumping 3 out, pulled up before last
- Form 11U-322
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 155
- Trainer O Murphy
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
midfield, reminder after 3rd, progress after 6th to track leaders, ridden before 3 out, struggled to go with leaders from 2 out, kept on one pace
Third Wind
63- Form 714-525
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer H Morrison
- Jockey Tom Cannon
towards rear, clipped 7th, smooth progress to jump 3 out in 4th, pushed before last, hit front and ridden after final flight, kept on
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
It’s a long time since Ballyoptic ran over hurdles but he was better last time over fences. Main Fact won nine in a row before coming unstuck in the Long Walk at Ascot in December but now has ground to make up on Third Wind and is 4lb worse off. On The Blind Side has come right back to his best this season and will be fancied to record a third victory of the campaign but ITCHY FEET is probably worth a try over 3m given the way he has been staying on over shorter in chases and he has plenty of form at the highest level. Last year’s winner Emitom has something to prove following wind surgery and the 2018 winner Donna's Diamond looks past his best while Lisnagar Oscar may be warming up for the defence of his Stayers’ Hurdle crown next month.
Formwatch
Emitom (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Led, clear 2nd, pushed along and reduced lead before 4 out, headed soon after 4 out, weakened before next, last of 3, 22 1/2l behind If The Cap Fits (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m 5f (3) gs in Oct.
Lisnagar Oscar (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, disputed lead briefly before 2 out, soon headed, faded approaching last, 7th of 10, 21 1/2l behind Thyme Hill (11-3) at Newbury 3m (1) gd in Nov.
Main Fact (USA) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in 6th, some headway on outside and pushed along before 3 out, soon ridden and beaten, 7th of 8, dist behind Paisley Park (11-7) at Ascot 3m (1) hvy in Dec.
On The Blind Side (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Pressed leader, led briefly 3rd, challenged from 2 out, stayed on under pressure and driven ahead inside final 110 yards, won at Market Rasen 2m 7f (2) hvy in Jan beating Lil Rockerfeller (11-0) by nk, 8 ran.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 28-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, ridden and headway approaching 16th, no extra 2 out, 6th of 13, 13 3/4l behind Notachance (10-5) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Donna's Diamond (IRE) 22-1 (12-1) Prominent until 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 9, dist behind Potters Hedger (11-0) at Haydock 3m hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Itchy Feet (FR) 15-8 (11-7) Bit keen and never fluent, tracked winner until hit 4th, ridden and outpaced approaching 11th, looked beaten 3 out, rallied before last, went 2nd run-in and closed towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 3, 2l behind Dashel Drasher (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f (2) hvy in Dec.
Third Wind 22-1 (11-7) Handy enough in 5th, pushed along after 3 out, hung right and weakened from 2 out, 5th of 8, 14 1/2l behind Paisley Park (11-7) at Ascot 3m (1) hvy in Dec.