Crievehill

Crievehill was really impressive in winning the three-and-a-quarter-mile handicap chase. Quickly into a nice racing rhythm in second place behind early leader Ami Desbois, he remained prominent, just behind or up on the pace, until he moved on into the lead on the run around into the home straight. He went on on the run to the fourth last, and he stayed on really well over the last three fences to win well in a good time, a faster time than the time that Lostintranslation clocked in the Betfair Chase over the same course and distance later on the day, carrying 5lb less.

The form of the race is working out well too. Runner-up Sharp Response ran well next time to finish third in the voided London National at Sandown, while fourth-placed Singlefarmpayment looked a likely winner of Cogry’s race at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Crievehill is not especially lightly raced, but he is only seven, and it looks like he is progressing nicely now. Fourth behind Any Second Now in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival last March off a mark of 140, he won a handicap chase at Wetherby on his debut this season off a mark of 138, and this was a good step forward on that, winning a better race just as easily off a mark of 145. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horse could be a Grand National horse at some stage, he stayed this trip well and he jumped the Grand National fences well when he finished sixth in the Grand Sefton Chase at Aintree last December, but he will be of interest wherever he goes now. The handicapper raised him by 10lb to a mark of 155, but a hike of that magnitude was merited. He holds an entry in the Silver Cup at Ascot on Saturday, and he will be of interest if he takes his chance in that.

Haydock, 23^rd November 2019