Castle likely to bid for Swinton success at Haydock

May 7 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

BORDER CASTLE looks likely to bid to add the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock Park on Saturday to last month’s shock win in the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Andrew Haynes’ charge was 2lb out of the handicap at Ayr, but defied his odds of 40-1 to win by three lengths from Takeroc. But in the feature of Haydock’s seven-race mixed Flat and jumps card he will have to shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb.

His amateur rider Nick Scholfield will again take 5lb off, though, and Haynes said: “The original plan was not to run him after Ayr. We were going to put away and bring him back September/October time on the Flat and then aim him at our Champion Hurdle, but he’s come out of the race so well.

“There’s also a race on the Flat for him next week, but at the moment we are targeting him at the Swinton Hurdle.

“We’re top weight, but Nick will help by taking 5lb off obviously. He was impressive at Ayr. The time was faster than standard and he did it the hard way, leading a long way out. He seems to be fresh and well. He worked yesterday and been out on the roads today. At this stage he’s 90% certain to run in the Swinton.”