Racecards
15:00 Haydock Park
Watch Racing UK In Stunning HD Novices' Hurdle (Class 3)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 2f 191y
- Going: Heavy ( Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Winner: £5,848
- 2nd: £1,717
- 3rd: £859
- 4th: £429

- Form 455-4
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey N de Boinville
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, went 2nd from 2nd until 6th, challenged 3 out until last, 3 lengths down flat, stayed on towards finish

- Form 3/22155-
- Age 8
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 108
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey W T Kennedy
jumped right at times, led until 7th, lost place 3 out, weakened next

- Form 74PP-32
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer W Coltherd
- Jockey Sam Coltherd
tracked leader until 2nd, stayed handy, led 7th, headed 2 out, weakened flat

- Form 357F1-2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey D A Jacob
held up, headway on inside 6th, challenged going well 3 out, led next, 3 lengths up flat, reduced margin towards finish, ridden out

- Form R71-3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
not always fluent in rear, closing on outside when mistake 6th, effort 3 out, close up 2 out, no extra inside final 100 yards
In depth
Verdict
Bumper winner SPIDER’S BITE was novicey at Aintree on his hurdles bow but shaped nicely and will know more today. He’s preferred to Kempton fourth Duke Debarry, though he may not have stayed the 2m5f on his return to action. Freddies Portrait is probably having a pipe-opener before resuming his chase career and Graystown also looks an embryo chaser but winning pointer Ravensdale had the pace to finish second in a Southwell bumper in October.
Formwatch
Duke Debarry (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, pushed along before lost 3rd 2 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 14, 15 1/4l behind Way Back Then (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f (4) gd in Nov.
Freddies Portrait (IRE) 10-3fav (11-7) Led, ridden before 4 out, soon headed, one pace from 3 out, 5th of 7, 10 1/2l behind Mumgos Debut (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Graystown (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Led until 2nd, chased leader, led again 8th, ridden along before 3 out, joined 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 11, 3 1/4l behind Victoria Says (10-7) at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Nov.
Ravensdale (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Hidden Glen (11-4) at Southwell 2m mdn (6) gd in Oct.
Spider's Bite (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway into 6th when went left and untidy last, ran on flat, went 3rd near post, 3rd of 9, 7 1/2l behind Hear No Evil (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f (4) gs in Nov.