close up on outside, tracked winner after 4 out, outpaced 2 out, no chance with winner when lost 2nd flat
made all, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well to go clear approaching last, comfortably
tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 4 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off
tracked winner, ridden and lost place after 4 out, behind from next, soon weakened, tailed off
disputed 2nd, pushed along from 3rd, lost place before 4 out, ridden before next, chased leading pair under pressure before 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Teenage Idol finished just ahead of Sir Tantallus Hawk at Wetherby two weeks ago but last week's Doncaster third can reverse that form on better terms. Stormy Weather should benefit from today's drop in class and could figure, but all three of the aforementioned have first preferences at Haydock today. European Dream has been quite highly tried on his two recent runs over hurdles and shouldn't be ignored, but the four-year-olds Jubail and Falcun have a bit to find on what they've shown so far, however, so the vote in this goes to AFSOUN. A very classy performer in his prime, the Newmarket raider is thrown in here on his best form and has shown a little more recently.
Tito Bustillo (FR) 33-1 (10-3) Mid-division on outside, ridden and lost place after 6th, 13th of 21, 34l behind Far Away So Close (9-10) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Afsoun (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, effort approaching 3 out, soon hard ridden, kept on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 11, 8l behind Christopher Wren (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
European Dream (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Held up behind, driven and outpaced after 3 out, weakened next, behind when hampered last, 7th of 12, 29l behind Ubi Ace (11-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs.
Jubail (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Rumble Of Thunder (11-5) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Falcun 14-1 (10-5) Close up, ridden and mistake last, no extra, 4th of 15, 9l behind Kent Street (10-12) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Sir Tantallus Hawk 5-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, ridden and every chance before and hit last, weakened run-in, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Dubai Crest (10-6) at Doncaster 2m Handicap Hurdle (0-140) (3yo+) (3) gs.
Teenage Idol (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Chased leaders, chased winner before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Akula (11-8) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs.
Stormy Weather (FR) 200-1 (11-0) In rear, struggling 3 out, never dangerous, tailed off, 6th of 8, 41l behind Grandouet (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) gd.