Racecards
12:20 Haydock Park
Ideal Recruit Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Heavy, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 4081/11
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer N B King
- Jockey T E Whelan
led, headed after 3rd, kept on well to take 2nd run-in
Araldur (FR)
28- Form 1/450-02
- Age 11
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer A King
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
held up towards rear, headway to go mid-division 5th, pushed along in 4th before 3 out, outpaced 2 out, kept on
- Form 272-146
- Age 9
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer Tim Vaughan
- Jockey Michael Byrne
close up, led after 3rd, headed 4 out, soon pushed along, ridden and weakened from 3 out
- Form 4230/0-2
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer J Candlish
- Jockey J M Maguire
chased leaders on outer, led 4 out, headed before 3 out, led after 2 out, driven out
- Form 4-311
- Age 6
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey P Buchanan
held up in touch, soon towards rear, pushed along before 8th, weakened before 3 out
- Form 2PP-F2P
- Age 9
- Weight 10-7
- Official Rating 121
- Trainer M & D Easterby
- Jockey Harry Bannister
held up in touch, weakened before 3 out
- Form 111237
- Age 8
- Weight 10-6
- Official Rating 120
- Trainer A Middleton
- Jockey Kevin Jones
in rear, pushed along before 4 out, ridden after 4 out, good headway to lead before 3 out, headed after 2 out, no extra and lost 2nd place run-in
- Form 341-654
- Age 9
- Weight 10-0
- Official Rating 112
- Trainer J Wade
- Jockey B S Hughes
held up mid-division, in rear before 6th, weakened before 3 out
Verdict
It's no surprise that Milansbar has shot up the weights as he's twice sluiced up at Uttoxeter since returning from a lay-off. But 21lb seems excessive and he's also upped in grade here. Araldur is interesting on his second off today's mark over course and distance four weeks ago but, like last month's Carlisle runner-up Barafundle, is now in the veteran stage. Rev It Up had a hard race at Chepstow three weeks ago but did finish ahead of American Life, who looks to be in the handicapper's grip now. KINGSWELL THEATRE (NAP) is still a novice but the form of his Kelso victory in November has worked out well and he defied a penalty at Newcastle without coming off the bridle. He can find the necessary improvement to land the hat-trick.
Formwatch
Milansbar (IRE) 5-4fav (11-11) Made all, drew clear on bit from 4 out, unchallenged, heavily eased flat, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) hvy in Dec beating Extreme Impact (10-13) by 29l, 7 ran.
Araldur (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, took keen hold, hit 4th, driven to challenge 3 out, mistake 2 out, keeping on under pressure when hung left close home, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Closing Ceremony (11-5) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) hvy in Dec.
Rev It Up (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 2nd until 3rd, led before 6th, headed after 8th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 12, 25l behind Awaywiththegreys (11-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Barafundle (IRE) 15-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, led 2 out, ridden next, headed flat, kept on one pace, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Phoenix Returns (10-8) at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Dec.
Kingswell Theatre 8-15fav (11-0) Tracked leader, disputed lead 7th, led after 4 out, drew clear on bit from next, unchallenged after, heavily eased flat, won at Newcastle 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Tomahawk Wood (10-7) by 21l, 6 ran.
Who Owns Me (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Led until 2nd, ridden and lost place 6th, well beaten after 8th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Awaywiththegreys (11-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec, 12 ran.
American Life (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, 8th and well beaten before 4 out, tailed off, 7th of 12, well behind Awaywiththegreys (11-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) hvy in Dec.
Forty Crown (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, outpaced 4 out, kept on before last, 4th of 9, 13l behind Quel Elite (11-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Dec.