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14:10 Haydock Park

Red Square Vodka Champion Hurdle Trial (Class A)

  • 7 Runners
  • Distance: 2m
  • Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 3m 57.30s
  • 7 Ran
1
Silk - PURPLE, YELLOW chevron, diabolo on sleeves
11/10
  • Form 1/54U11-
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-10

in touch, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on from 2 out, no impression

2
Silk - Dark Blue, Orange hoop, halved sleeves, Orange cap
  • Form 1/21-11
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-6

held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and blundered next, drew clear from last

3
Silk - Light blue, brown stripe and armlets
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-2

held up, headway 4 out, ridden approaching next, soon weakened

4
Silk - Yellow, Dark Green diamond, striped sleeves and diamonds on cap
  • Form 682173
  • Age 13
  • Weight 11-2

led, headed 3rd, behind from 4 out

5
Silk - DARK BLUE, YELLOW disc, halved sleeves, DARK BLUE and YELLOW quartered cap
14/1
  • Form 194-101
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-2

tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, soon headed, weakened flat

6
Silk - YELLOW, BLACK epaulets, WHITE sleeves, YELLOW cap, BLACK star
14/1
  • Form 1FP5-44
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-2

held up in rear, ridden after 4 out, kept on approaching last

7
Silk - Red, yellow epaulets
  • Form 384-026
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-2

tracked leaders, hit 2nd, behind from 4 out

In depth

Verdict

Epitre, a Group 2 winner on the flat in France when trained by Andre Fabre, is an interesting participant on his British and hurdling debut. However, the six-year-old faces a stiff task against more experienced hurdlers. Among them, The French Furze is a useful yardstick and has lost no caste in defeat behind Intersky Falcon and Rooster Booster in his last two starts. This looks just as difficult for the Nicky Richards-trained gelding though and he may have to settle for a minor role again. Martin Pipe's Ilnamar showed progressive form last term which ended with wins in the Coral Eurobet Cup and the Martell Aintree Hurdle. On that evidence, the son of Officiel looks the one to beat and, while an absence since his victory at Liverpool should not be a problem as Pipe can produce his runners fit first time up, we would rather side with the upcoming Flame Creek. Noel Chance's gelding has progressed with each run and is now considered a potential Champion Hurdle horse by connections. The ground is ideal and, with further improvement to come, he gets the vote.