Friday 19th November 2010

Haydock 40% Better Off On Betfair SP Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) 

Tasheba is a 5yo gelding trained by N J Henderson and has won 30% of his races and amassed over £60,000 in prize money, three of these wins were on the flat. Finished third in his last race at Kempton on the 1st November but was a long way behind Backbord on that occasion and the weights here today are more or less the same. Has won a listed race but would require more here today.

Ballyfitz is a 10yo who has had a vey good career over the jumps and has over £150,000 in prize money and a 34% strike rate to prove it. Has the beating of both According To Pete and Backbord, although his beating of According To Pete the weights where very much in his favour, which is not the case here today. This is another who has struggled to win at this level and considering he is now ten, may very well of missed his chance.

Hills Of Aran is an 8yo win eight wins to his name and a good level of prize money banked, although none of these wins have come at this level. Has beaten Ballyfitz in the past and conditions look even more in his favour here today, so would expect him to finish ahead here again.

James De Vassy is a 5yo is trained by Nick Williams and has not had a lot of racing but managed to collect over £50,000 in prize money. Not been seen out since March but did finish 4th in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle a grade three race at Cheltenham twelve months ago which looked a good race, so possibilities.

Peveril is another one trained by N J Henderson and has won four of his six races but all have been lower class races than this although today's step up in distance may help. Has finished in front of Load Generous in the past but with a lack of recent runs and slight turn around with the weights the preference would be for Load Generous out of the two.

Lord Generous is a 6yo gelding who has moved from trainer to trainer and this may not of helped but has won a listed NHF race. Not the most consistent but looks evenly matched with Peveril, whether he is good enough to win I’m not sure.

Khachaturian is not the most consistent but has won his share of good prize money over the years and finished in front of Hills Of Aran at Sandown back in January. On a negative note was beaten by Captain Americo back in 2009 and on that form would not be good enough and of the two I would pick Captain Americo.

Auroras Encore has a very good strike rate over the big fences but not so good over hurdles but with two of his six wins coming in listed company I will take a closer look. Has finished in front of both Backbord and The Shyman in hurdle races but trainer does not have a record at this course which looks anything special and looks another that can be passed over.

Grands Crus is the paper fav and has won two of his six races but until his win last week had not looked that good. Has not meet any of these here today before so bit tricky and could very well win easily but with the price on offer I think there are better value horses from a profit making point of view.

Fruity O’Rooney is a 7yo gelding who has not run at this level before but considering two of his three wins have come this year looks to me as he has earned his chance to run in this race. Early forecast prices has him evenly matched with Barafundle but I feel he is value at less than that considering he finished well ahead at Cheltenham last April.

According To Pete has won lots of prize money but has a better strike rate in chases than hurdles and although he has beaten both Auroras Encore and Backbord. Beaten by Ballyfitz but with more favourable conditions this time around and a good jockey with a trainer who has done well here could be one for the short list.

Red Harbour is a 6yo from the top yard of P F Nicholls and has won two graded races which gets us off to a good start. Had a very narrow win at Sandown back in March and with five pound rise for that win and a jockey booking that looks significant by taking five pounds off, could be interesting.

Barafundle is a 6yo with not that many mile on the clock and won at Chepstow in April 2009 in a very good looking race and has managed to win another two races since. Not been seen out since finishing second over around this distance at this course in May and although the trainer does not have a mega record here could be worth keeping an eye on the betting.

Backbord is an 8yo who has won six races and picked up more than £150,000 in prize money, problem is that most of that was a number of years ago in lower class. Has won a listed race, but that was on the flat and not in this country, in addition has been beaten by a number of these in the past.

The Shy Man has a good strike rate but is one of them horses that either wins or gets slaughtered and was on a good day last time out at Aintree when winning by eleven lengths. So on that form would look to have a chance, but consistency is not this 7yos type of thing.

Chester Lad is a 5yo with two wins from five races but both of those where at shorter distance than today and did not jump to well last time out at Cheltenham and was beaten a very long way. With that said did finish in front of Hill Of Aran in that race, but its up to you what you make of it.

Theobstercatcher is the final one in the line up and is a 6yo trained by P Bowen who has not meet any of these before. Not raced at this level before but ran and won a good race at Chepstow last time at the begin of November. Considering the horses he beat where rated high this one could be well handicapped and run a nice race.

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