The Betfair Exchange “Fixed Brush”
Handicap Hurdle, run over 2 miles 6 furlongs and 177 yards at
Haydock, is often not quite as competitive as it appears on paper.
Three favourites have won in the last 10 years, but nine winners in
that period were sent off at odds of 12/1 or shorter. Nevertheless,
the rigid construction of the obstacles – which are similar to
plain fences, but obviously not as high – always makes for a
fascinating contest, in which the emphasis is on clean, accurate
jumping as well as stamina.
Rathpatrick (25/1) hasn’t been
seen since pulling up in the valuable Murray Spielman Handicap Hurdle
at Punchestown in April, but was sixth of 24, beaten 3½ lengths,
behind Mall Dini in the Pertemps Network Final at the Cheltenham
Festival on his visit to mainland Britain and warrants close
attention off an identical handicap mark. The Oscar gelding remains
12lb higher than when winning at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, but
should be competitive if fit and ready to do himself justice after an
absence of 205 days.
Western Cape (20/1) weakened
quickly when only thirteenth of 18, beaten 70 lengths, behind Barney
Dwan over 2 miles 4 furlongs at Sandown on his final start last
season. That form leaves him with plenty to find with Two Taffs, but
he was only beaten a head by Herbert Park over 2 miles 7 furlongs on
his reappearance at Worcester and is entitled to improve for that
run, his first since March. The Westerner gelding only 5lb better off
for 63¼ lengths with Two Taffs, but he is almost certainly better
than he showed at Sandown and remains a decent prospect.
Donna’s Diamond (40/1)
unseated rider at the third fence on his chasing debut at Wetherby
three weeks ago, but doesn’t look impossibly handicapped on the
pick of his form over hurdles and merits consideration, despite
stepping up in class. The Cloudings gelding is relatively lightly
raced for a 7-year-old and, although still 5lb higher in the weights
than when winning over 3 miles 2 furlongs at Musselburgh on New
Year’s Day, has an abundance of stamina that should stand him in
good stead for this stern test.
Selections: Haydock Saturday 2.25
Rathpatrick, Western Cape, Donna’s Diamond
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