Racecards
14:35 Haydock Park
ApolloBet Cash Back If 2nd Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final (Handicap) (Class 2)
- 16 Runners
- Distance: 2m 6f 177y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £50,000 added
- Winner: £30,950
- 2nd: £9,190
- 3rd: £4,595
- 4th: £2,290
- Form 63-3131
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer H Whittington
- Jockey N de Boinville
in touch, went 3rd after 4 out, led 2 out, in command when blundered and unseated rider last
- Form 1-21491
- Age 6
- Weight 11-9
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey N D Fehily
towards rear, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, held in 3rd when left 2nd from last, kept on same pace
- Form 51P-371
- Age 7
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Craig Nichol
with leader, quickly weakened and pulled up before 4th
- Form 4P-5224
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey Conor Ring
always towards rear, tailed off 4 out, pulled up
- Form 12/3392
- Age 10
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer C J Down
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
mid-division on outer, headway after 4 out, ridden 3 out, kept on
- Form 211342
- Age 7
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey C Gethings
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 3 out, left 3rd from last, kept on same pace
- Form 114293
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey W T Kennedy
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up
- Form 9-01675
- Age 9
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey R P McLernon
mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened
Hainan (FR)
50- Form 16-7421
- Age 5
- Weight 10-11
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer Mrs S J Smith
- Jockey Danny Cook
held up in touch, pushed along 4 out, in 6th before 3 out, kept on same pace
- Form 231F-73
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey G Sheehan
held up in touch, ridden before 3 out, no impression
Caledonia
26- Form 75/2F21
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer J S Goldie
- Jockey Henry Brooke
mid-division, weakened before 4 out
- Form 1741P8
- Age 7
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer D McCain Jnr
- Jockey Wayne Hutchinson
led, headed 5 out, kept on same pace
Octagon
26- Form 143B32
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Mrs Dianne Sayer
- Jockey B S Hughes
towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
Harry Hunt
14- Form 0-35120
- Age 9
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer D Killahena & G McPherson
- Jockey Kielan Woods
always towards rear
- Form 21PU/59
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey Grant Cockburn
close up, lost place from 5th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up
- Form 332553
- Age 6
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 122
- Trainer S Edmunds
- Jockey Joshua Moore
tracked leaders, led 5 out, clear before 3 out, headed 2 out, looking held in 2nd when left in lead last, kept on
Norse Legend
35- Form 2P-32P6
- Age 5
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer C Gordon
- Jockey M Goldstein
NonRunner
Verdict
Fingerontheswitch was always travelling well when successful at Doncaster last month and is only 4lb higher but Emerging Force was all out to win at the same track and has suffered a 12lb hike in the weights. Sykes is a consistent sort but MOORLANDS MIST deserves a change of luck and Evan Williams' grey will appreciate the switch back to hurdles having looked ill-at-ease over fences last time at Chepstow. Caledonia beat Octagon, Oscar Blue and the enigmatic Tap Night at Ayr last month but this longer trip has proved beyond him in the past. Sir Vinski, Norse Legend and Petethepear all have the form to figure but the former would need the blinkers to work a second time to get involved.
Formwatch
Emerging Force (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out,stayed on to lead close home, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Whataknight (11-11) by ns, 19 ran.
Fingerontheswitch (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before last, found extra towards finish, won at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Pinnacle Panda (11-12) by 3l, 12 ran.
Sir Vinski (IRE) 9-4jfav (10-11) Tracked leaders, led after 4 out, clear before last, won at Wetherby 3m hcp (3) hvy in Feb beating Another Mattie (10-12) by 8l, 8 ran.
Moorlands Mist 2-1fav (11-9) Held up in rear, struggling 9th, soon lost touch, left remote 4th 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 8, 36 1/2l behind Berea Boru (11-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Billy Dutton 11-2fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, mistake 2 out, not fluent last, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Bangkok Pete (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Sykes (IRE) 7-2fav (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, chased winner approaching last, every chance run in, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Count Guido Deiro (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Oscar Blue (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, mistake 4th, headway 8th, tracked leaders 4 out, outpaced next, soon ridden, stayed on to take 3rd after last, no impression with front pair, 3rd of 9, 10 3/4l behind Caledonia (11-1) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Tap Night (USA) 16-1 (11-12) Led, headed narrowly after 3rd, led again after 4 out, headed before next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 37 3/4l behind Caledonia (11-1) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Hainan (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Held up in touch in mid-division, closed after 5th, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Feb beating Iron Butterfly (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Alzammaar (USA) 11-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, ridden and headway on inner before 3 out, kept on to take 3rd run-in, 3rd of 11, 6 3/4l behind Red Devil Boys (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Caledonia 9-2 (11-1) Held up in touch on outside, headway to challenge before 3 out, led before next, soon ridden and hard pressed, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Octagon (11-2) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Volcanic (FR) 40-1 (11-8) Close up, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 12, 34 1/4l behind Fingerontheswitch (11-6) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Octagon 8-1 (11-2) Held up behind in touch, headway 4 out, tracked front pair before next, went 2nd and poised to challenge between last 2, kept on same pace flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Caledonia (11-1) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Harry Hunt 28-1 (9-9) Soon with leader, under pressure over 4f out, weakened over 2f out, 4th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Midtech Star (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (4) pol in Mar.
Kris Cross (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 9th of 10, dist behind Shades Of Midnight (11-12) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Feb.
Petethepear (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Always prominent, every chance 3 out, led next, headed before last, kept on, 3rd of 14, 2 1/2l behind Bangkok Pete (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Norse Legend 33-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, under pressure 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 14, 15 1/4l behind Bangkok Pete (10-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) sft in Feb.