15:50 Haydock

Saturday 15 February 2020

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 6m 41.5s

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Selected odds by:

Unowhatimeanharry^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 153| D

10/1

Still a smart stating hurdler even if his best days are behind him; not seen in a handicap since 2016 when winning at Exeter off 138. Yet to win this term (all start in Grade 1/2 company; interesting to see what he can do returned to this level.

Form: 80-1242

Sykes⁵⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 143| CD

11/1

Landed this race last year off today's mark (Silva Eclipse second) showing a tough attitude and making light of a 4-month absence. Patchy form in four starts since but shaped well enough last time (made effort too soon); has to be respected.

Form: 21P-3P4

Kilbricken Storm^t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 142| D

5/1

Yet to match the form he showed when winning the 2018 Albert Bartlett (revelled in the testing conditions). Returns to handicaps having run well in Cheltenham Grade 2 last time (best form at that track overall); one to consider in this environment.

Form: 600-836

Guitar Pete⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards| OR: 140

28/1

Scored over fences on his seasonal return at Wetherby in a race that he has a good record in. Failed to reach that level of form in two subsequent chase starts (looked short of stamina over 3m last time); returns to hurdles with plenty to prove.

Form: 233-187

Kris Spin⁵⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 10-13| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 140| D

25/1

Took well to staying hurdles in the 2017/18 season winning three such races the last two back-to-back despite not being easy to train. Only seen twice since those victories (looked in need of the race last time); hard one to weigh up on the evidence.

Form: 6011/7-P

Fagan⁶⁶⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 140| BF| D

33/1

First run for this yard returning from a long absence having previously been a useful hurdler/chaser with Gordon Elliott. Not seen since being pulled up in the 2018 Scottish Grand National (started favourite); 7lb below that mark, plenty to prove.

Form: 4P122P/

Portrush Ted^t⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 138| D

10/3

Ended his useful bumper career by winning an Aintree Grade 2 before scoring over hurdles on his debut. Returned after 17-months off (fragile sort) to win on his handicap debut (2m5f, heavy), looked as good as ever; still unexposed despite 7lb rise.

Form: 2P21/1-1

Welsh Saint⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134

9/4

Bumper winner who has found his forte over hurdles after falling on his debut (had wind op straight after). Winner of a 2m5f Warwick novice in the mud he wasn't suited by a tactical affair last time; handicap debut stepping up 3m for the first time.

Form: 21-F213

Tree Of Liberty^p,t1²³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 130

33/1

Winner of two novice handicap chases with Kerry Lee back in early-2018 with his form since including for this yard having a rather uneven feel. Looked laboured over fences last time; back to hurdles off a reduced mark in new headgear combination.

Form: 240U-06

Silva Eclipse²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 128| CD

4/1

Second in this last year he scored at Uttoxeter in November (yard in a lull at the time); run consistently well since. Rewarded for two sound runs with a C&D win last time, finding plenty to win in game still; may prove vulnerable off this mark.

Form: 861431

Non-Runners

Young Bull⁵¹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 6

T: H Whittington J: G Sheehan

River Arrow⁶³

Weight: 10-0| Age: 9

T: T Symonds J: Charlie Price

Forecasts

Welsh Saint (9/4), Portrush Ted (10/3), Silva Eclipse (4/1), Kilbricken Storm (5/1), Young Bull (5/1), Unowhatimeanharry (10/1), Sykes (11/1), River Arrow (16/1), Kris Spin (25/1), Guitar Pete (28/1), Fagan (33/1), Tree Of Liberty (33/1)

Last year’s 1-2 Sykes and Silva Eclipse renew their rivalry with the former slightly better off at the weights but the latter comes here in better form having won over C&D last time. Both have to cope with a trio of progressive types along with a couple of previous graded winners. The progressive types are headed by PORTRUSH TED who despite being a fragile can prove that he’s still well handicapped off this mark. Welsh Saint and Young Bull both stepping up in trip also are two others that may be ahead of their marks and can’t be ignored. Unowhatimeanharry steps back into a handicap for the first time in years and could still make his presence felt along with the useful Kilbricken Storm.