Haydock 6/11/2008

[NMc106]

13-10 Haydock

Our Jim:

Remains the same weight after a poor run LTO back in May. Last won back in February, though has picked up a couple of 2^nds from similar weights in April/May. Trainer is in decent form, though nothing special & has quite a good record here. Maybe just caught by the handicapper at the moment.

Flying Doctor:

Up 4lbs since LTO in September; where he finished 3^rd in a class 4. Has a decent hurdles record with 2 wins and 7 places from 18 starts. Ground should suit as should the distance. Trainer is not in the best of form recently.

Raining Horse:

Drops 8lbs since LTO back in April; falling at Ayr. The previous race to that he ran off 112 (4lbs higher than today) and beat KalmoBay comfortably though a big error by the favourite made it slightly easier. Not much form from the trainer to go on.

Mr Maxim:

Hasn’t ran for 292 days and drops 1lb since then. Could run well here off a pretty low weight for him and the faster ground will certainly suit.

Rival Bidder:

Up 5lbs since LTO; winning a class 5 at Southwell. Course & Distance winner, so has proved he can run round here. With an 8lbs claimer on board he is by far carrying the least weight in this race; a massive 25lbs better off than top weight Our Jim. Trainer is in decent form also.

A few could win this here; I think Our Jim is just over what he can deal with on the handicap & Flying Doctor seems to have been punished a bit too much for his 3^rd LTO. I’m going to go for Raining Horse over the featherweight Rival Bidder because Raining Horse has dropped a good few lbs for today’s run and could easily win off that mark.

Suggestion:

Raining Horse – Win @ 3/1 (RPF) :hope

[NMc106]

Re: Haydock 6/11/2008 13-40 Haydock

Woolfall Treasure:

Decent potential with this horse here. 6lbs penalty for today’s run and his 3^rd over hurdles. Won a pretty poor race at Fontwell in September & followed that up with a Class 2 3^rd at Market Rasen. Ground might not be ideal here today for him though. Trainer is in pretty good form & a decent record here.

Balzaccio:

Finished 2^nd in his Hurdling debut last month getting beat by just a length and a quarter by Resounding Glory who then went on to beat the pretty impressive Silk Drum on his next outing. Placed 5 times out of 6 on the flat, the ground should suit and may have a chance here. Alan King is in good form and has a pretty good record here.

This seems to be a race between just two horses. The favourite is forecasted to be Woolfall Treasure at 10/11 with Balzaccio 11/8. There really is not real value here and the other 3 runners I just cannot see getting involved. But I would have to go with Balzaccio as the firmer ground is not perfect for the favourite.

Suggestion:

Balzaccio – Win @ 11/8 (RPF) :hope