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Racecards

13:20 Haydock Park

Blue Square Champion Hurdle Trial (grade 2) (Class 1)

  • 8 Runners
  • Distance: 2m 110y
  • Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
  • Surface: Turf
  • £45,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 3m 59.00s
  • Off Time: 13:21:00
  • 8 Ran
1
Silk -
2
Silk -
3
Silk -
1
Silk - EMERALD GREEN and YELLOW (quartered), WHITE sleeves and cap

Afsoun (FR)

22 DCD
3/1
  • Form 177-1FF
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-12
  • Official Rating 162

led, jumped left, ridden 2 out, soon headed, kept on from last

2
Silk - Dark Blue, Light Blue hoop, checked sleeves and cap
11/10
  • Form 1223-12
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-8
  • Official Rating 160

tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, weakened approaching last

3
Silk - Royal Blue, Dark Green sleeves and cap

Songe (FR)

28 D
7/1
  • Form 48-63P3
  • Age 5
  • Weight 11-6
  • Official Rating 143

held up in touch, keen, led after 2 out, ridden and soon under pressure, just driven out

4
Silk - Black and Beige (halved), chevrons on sleeves, Beige cap
20/1
  • Form 103/26-F
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 142

tracked leader, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out

5
Silk - White, Red seams, White and Royal Blue diabolo on sleeves, White cap, Red diamond
20/1
  • Form 20-0170
  • Age 6
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 125

held up in rear, blundered 5th, soon pushed along, outpaced from next

6
Silk - ROYAL BLUE, EMERALD GREEN sleeves, WHITE cap, EMERALD GREEN spots

Marcel (FR)

273 D
33/1
  • Form 569181-
  • Age 9
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 132

held up, pushed along after 4 out, soon weakened

7
Silk - Black and Red stripes, White and Black striped sleeves, Red and White striped cap
150/1
  • Form 1BD345/
  • Age 7
  • Weight 11-4
  • Official Rating 115

held up, pushed along after 4 out, never dangerous

8
Silk - RED, WHITE chevron and armlets, striped cap
9/2
  • Form 71/21-11
  • Age 7
  • Weight 10-11
  • Official Rating 130

in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, hung left, weakened approaching last

Previous results

In depth

Verdict

The weather may affect the participation of SNAP TIE but if he turns up, he is the one to beat with Issaquah and Afsoun the others to note amongst the opposition. Snap Tie has proved a progressive type this year and that has chiefly been down to some expert planning from Philip Hobbs. Having accounted for Katchit at Kempton first time out, he has far from disgraced behind Harchibald in the Christmas Hurdle. Issaquah is an exciting mare from the Malcolm Jefferson yard. In receipt of allowances today, the trainer has made no secret of the regard in which he holds her. Afsoun is on something of a recovery mission. He does not look a particularly talented chaser and while a few pound short of top class at this discipline, it will be some effort to give weight all around. Songe has not gone on as many would have hoped. That said, Charlie Longsdon has just come out of a barren spell as far as winners are concerned. Degas Art fell at Wetherby when holding every chance. European Dream has been an exciting horse for connections but may find it difficult to adjust from handicaps into graded company. Snap Tie holds all the aces if allowed to take his chance.

Formwatch

Afsoun (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, held up in touch when fell 5 out in race won by Harchibald (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Dec, 7 ran.

Snap Tie (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, joined leader 3 out, challenging when left in narrow lead 2 out, ridden between last 2, headed last, rallied towards finish but always held, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Harchibald (11-7) at Kempton 2m hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Dec.

Songe (FR) 66-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, stayed on, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 21, 2l behind Sentry Duty (11-9) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec.

Degas Art (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Led, headed approaching 4 out, ridden and upsides when fell at the last in race won by The Duke's Speech (11-0) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (4) sft in Dec, 6 ran.

European Dream (IRE) 40-1 (10-8) Never better than mid-division, 13th of 21, 19l behind Sentry Duty (11-9) at Ascot 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Dec.

Marcel (FR) 6-1 (10-3) Chased leaders, hit 5th, went 2nd 6 out, led 3 out, kept on well, won at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr beating Andreas (11-12) by 5l, 7 ran.

Prize Fighter (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Led, headed after 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, last of 5, 37l behind Ring The Boss (9-13) at Catterick 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Jan '07.

Issaquah (IRE) 2-1fav (10-10) Always prominent, led on bit 4 out, clear approaching last, eased towards finish, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Rich Lord (11-7) by 4l, 12 ran.