Laafi to bid for compensation in Swinton Hurdle Having been disqualified under the whips rules after passing the post in front at Aintree last time, the Bill Durkan trained Laafi will bid for compensation in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock next month. A smart handicapper on the Flat for William Haggas, the gelding scored on his Irish debut at Limerick in December. Although the six-year-old failed to add to that success subsequently, he came home in front at the Liverpool venue last time. Assistant Trainer Gary Bannon said: "Laafi will go for the Swinton Hurdle (Haydock). Bit unfortunate for him, he did nothing wrong on the day, and we've lost the race on a technicality (Aintree). "He's improving away all season, and I think the better ground over there in the Swinton will suit him. I know Paddy (O'Brien) won't be in the saddle, but Philip (Byrnes) will take over and hopefully we can go back over and get the sterling that they took off us! "Everyone likes to have one or two ('Saturday' horses) and we were going through the yard the other day, and we have 17 or 18 horses in there, a couple have gone on their holidays, and I think we counted nine or 10 that could be 'Saturday' horses for the summer for those good handicaps. It is brilliant to have and the Durkans are great supporters of the game. Everyone enjoys seeing them winning." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
