Norcross Brow made virtually every yard of the 4:09 Betway Tanners Bridge Handicap at Haydock, scoring at 4/1 under Liam Wright — and if you backed the 15/8 favourite Norfolk Blue, your money was never coming back. He trailed in fifth.
| Pos | Horse | Jockey | SP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Norcross Brow | Liam Wright | 4/1 |
| 2nd | Crafty Blue | Sean Levey | 5/1 |
| 3rd | Galba | C J Whiteley | 6/1 |
The Race Story
Sent straight to the front after a furlong of this three-year-old handicap over an extended six furlongs, Norcross Brow was pushed along two out, kicked two lengths clear entering the final furlong and, though Crafty Blue closed the gap late, the judge’s verdict was a comfortable neck with the winner always doing enough. Galba stayed on for third, two and a half lengths back, in a time of 1m 28.60s.
It is a third career win for the Charlie Clover-trained gelding, who has not stopped improving since arriving at the yard, following up his Beverley success exactly as the market’s second choice should. Eight went to post after Napolian and Berlinetta were taken out.
Tipster Accountability
Our Haydock preview got the story half right — and the bet wrong. The verdict was Norfolk Blue “to go one better” after his unlucky Sandown run: he was sent off favourite and managed only fifth, so that is a losing wager. The sting: the same preview’s Favourites line said Norcross Brow “looks weighted for a third career win” at 7/2 in the morning. Right analysis, wrong staking. No tracked tipsters in today’s review had money down here.
Looking Ahead
The Haydock finale is the 5:10 Betway Apprentice Handicap, where three-time all-weather winner Suggy heads the market at 13/8 — and note that Norcross Brow’s winning rider Liam Wright gets straight back up on 9/2 chance Phantom Watch, chasing a quick double. Earlier on the card, Pellitory took the 3:34 as Moonshine refused to race.
