Cross Kennon to steer the Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle his way at Haydock
The line-up for the Class 2 Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle is fairly experienced at racing at Haydock. The race today will be among nineteen contestants over three miles for the £15,640 purse.
Cross Kennon, Craigsteel’s eight-year-old bay gelding out of mare, Gaelic Million, has raced at Haydock as the seasonal debut and has been successful there during the previous season.
He scored second in the Grade 2 Betfred Goals Galore Hurdle (Registered As The Rendlesham Hurdle Race) on 18th February over three miles.
The five lengths’ leading pair, Restless Harry and Henry Oliver yanked away the title from the line-up of seven contestants. Finishing the closest to the winner, with Alan O’Keeffe onboard was Cross Kennon.
Coming at terms with the third position behind the winner was the 11/8 favourite of the race, Featherbed Lane.
His second try of the season saw him losing grip on the performance as he ended seventh in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham over three miles on 15th March.
The race was won by the 5/6 favourite, Big Buck’s, who was paired up with Ruby Walsh, the two led the field by 1 ¾ lengths and had Voler La Vedette joining in the quickest.
From the six times that Cross Kennon was active during the previous season, one was at Haydock and it turned out to be the only source of victory in 2011.
Jennie Candlish trained eight-year-old won the Grade 2 Totescoop6 Hurdle at Haydock over three miles on 19th February. He led the 7/4 favourite of the race, Bensalem, by six lengths while getting guided through the track by Alan O’Keeffe.
Settling third behind the winner was Kayf Aramis.
He will race through the third outing of the season today and will have his chances at Haydock for a second time. Cross Kennon will have to look out for Crescent Island, Pateese, Qulinton and Le Beau Bai as all of them have exposure to the race course but have not been able to accomplish anything significant till yet. Today one of them just might give it a try.
Cross Kennon has proved himself once and has all the chances of claiming the trip and countering the competition today.
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