Hi all
The big race caravan comes to halt today and after all the sustained quality of the last few days, it’s a bit of relief.
There are just three meetings today. Jump cards at Haydock and Taunton and a tea time all-weather fixture at Wolverhampton.
The going at Haydock is heavy for what is a decent seven race card. Give the amount of racing we have had of late and the forecast heavy ground. Not unsurprisingly just 58 horses have been declared.
It was good to get back among the winners yesterday and even better for the first time in what seems like ages I read the races well. It’s a been a busy few days and there won’t be any selections tomorrow.
Haydock
1:00 – Campbell Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) – 2m 6f
Torn And Frayed is sure to be popular with punters after his 7 length 2nd of 4 to My Drogo in a Cheltenham novice chase last time.
Mint Condition was a useful novice hurdler last season. He put behind him a poor reappearance over hurdles when neck 2nd of 4 to Kiltealy Briggs in novice chase here on his chase debut last time.
Farrants Way is the only one of the six runners that has yet to race over fences. The 7-year-old is having his first start since pulling up here over hurdles in February. Prior to that he had gone close on heavy ground here in a handicap hurdle. He looks a decent mark for his chase debut.
2:05 – Last Fling Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) – 3m
Just seven go to post for the Haydock feature race. Plenty of old favorites on show. Blaklion took advantage of a sliding mark to win a veterans chase here last time. He’s up 5lb but that rise in the weights is more than manageable on his back form.
The Two Amigos was an 8-length 3rd of 9 here in the Grand National Trial in February. He’s potentially well treated on his best form now 2lb lower than when a 3-length 2nd of 18 to Secret Reprieve in last season’s Welsh Grand National.
Beware The Bear is another who looks on a good mark if bouncing back to his best. However, he’s not the most consistent of horses and once again ran in snatches on his stable debut at Bangor last time. The blinkers he normally wears are replaced by the cheekpieces.
Bobo Mac goes well in the mud. The 10-year-old was well below form on his Bangor reappearance but was better, albeit well beaten, 2nd of 7 at Ludlow last time. Needs to do much better to win this but the ground will help and he’s on a fair mark.
Vieux Lion Rouge has twice won around here, including over C&D. The 12-year-old was struggling when hampered and unseating his rider in the Becher Chase last time. Ground is fine but you wonder if age might have caught up with him.
Chef D’Oeuvre won this race in 2018 and showed his liking for the track when winning a C&D handicap chase in March, off today’s mark. The 10-year-old put in a respectable effort when 3rd of 9 over an inadequate 3m at Wetherby earlier this month. The cheekpieces he’s been wearing are replaced by the first-time visor today.
2:40 – Windham Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m 3f
Celebre D’Allen had been off the track for 26 months when winning a heavy ground C&D handicap hurdle on his stable debut for Philip Hobbs last time. Up 6lb for that success which shouldn’t be an issue given he seemed to win with plenty in hand that day. Of more concern would be the possibility that 9-year-old will suffer the dreaded “bounce”.
Homme Public was a 7 ¾ lengths behind Celebre D’Allen last time but that was the 4-year-old’s first start for 9 months and he’s entitled to be sharper here. He’s only had six starts over hurdles so could be capable of better.
Rattle Owl was only having his second start in handicap company when a 3 ½ length 2nd of 7 at Doncaster last time. The return to 2m 3f will suit but heavy ground is an unknown for the 5-year-old. Handicapped to go close if he handles the testing underfoot conditions.
No ground concerns for Mister Watson who caused a 50/1 shock when winning on heavy ground at Lingfield 22-days ago. His two best RPR’s have come on heavy ground. Up 7lb in a better race but another big run could be on the cards.
Rockadenn is another well suited to the mud. Likely in need of the run on his first start for new trainer Alastair Ralph when well behind Tommy’s Oscar at Doncaster 19-days ago. Back down to the same mark as when winning at Taunton in February.
Minella Charmer ran like something was amiss when pulling up on his first start for ten months here last time. The previous course winners aren’t totally out of it, if you forgive his last run and his form figures on heavy are 1311.
3:15 – Codrington Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 2m 5 ½ f
The biggest field of the day with thirteen set to meet the starter.
Geryville faces different ground today than when winning at Wetherby two starts back and finishing 4 ½ lengths 2nd of 10 back at the same venue last time.
Orrisdale won on heavy ground over hurdles. He’s 0-7 over fences but did put in a personal best over the larger obstacles when a length 2nd of 5 in novice handicap chase at Market Rasen (good to soft) last month.
Venetia Williams saddled the winner of this in 2018. She relies on The Crooner today. The 6-year-old made it 2-5 over fences when winning at Fontwell in February. Up 3lb for his seasonal reappearance and can go well if ready to roll first time.
Wouldubewell a winner on heavy ground over hurdles at Uttoxeter last season. The mare made a winning start over fences at Fontwell (heavy) 23-days ago. She jumped soundly for a novice that day and there should be more to come from the 7-year-old although she does take a big drop in distance from last time.
Keep Wondering was off nearly 2 years when 17 ½ lengths 5th of 12 at Chepstow last time. He’s only had three starts over fences so is open to more progress. Sole career win came on heavy so the ground shouldn’t be an issue.
Up Helly Aa King shaped with plenty of promise when a 13 ½ lengths 4th of 11 to Blaklion in veterans chase here last time. The drop down to Class 3 company will suit the 10-year-old as will the drop back in trip on testing ground.
Town Parks is 3lb below his last winning mark but the 10-year-old was well beaten on his seasonal return last month.
Tanarpino came up against a progressive handicap chaser when a ½ length 2nd of 8 to Major Dundee at Bangor last time.
Thomas Macdonagh ran well when 2nd of 7, off 6lb higher here in March. However, he’s been well below form on both starts this season. The first time cheekpieces are applied today and you must respect Jeremy Snowden runners at Haydock 8 -19 runners in the past five seasons.
Taunton
The Taunton card is moderate but there a couple of competitive handicaps.
1:50 – I’m loathe to ignore any Jeremy Scott trained runner, given the excellent form of the yard. That’s why you must respect Lady KK on her third start over fences.
Cape Robin a winner at Worcester in June bounced back to form when a 2-length 2nd of 8 to Reve in a similar race at Ludlow 56-days ago. That was the 7-year-old’s first start beyond 2m 6f since his point days. He showed he stayed an easy 3m 2f that day so today’s 2m 7f will be fine. He wouldn’t want the ground to ease from good to soft but if it doesn’t, he’s in the mix.
3:30 – The final handicap hurdle on the Taunton card is arguably the competitive. The two I like most are Sizeable Sam and Only The Bold.
Sizeable Sam, hails from the inform Jeremy Scott, had some decent form over hurdles last season winning twice at this time last year at Wincanton. Looked the sort do well over fences this season but he hasn’t really taken to them on either start this season. He still has more offer as a hurdler and looks interesting in the first time cheekpieces.
Only The Bold won a soft ground 2m 4f novice hurdle at Southwell in February. Before struggling back at the same venue, a month later. The 6-year-old stepped up on reappearance at Aintree when a keeping on 9 ¼ length 6th of 13 here over 2m 3f last time. Shaped like further and better stamina test would suit. Ok, he may be better on softer ground but he’s not out of this.
Betting Advice:
Haydock
2:05 – Chef D’Oeuvre – 5/1 @ Bet365
2:40 – Rockadenn – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:15 – Up Helly Aa King – 9/1 @ Bet365
Taunton
3:30 – 1pt win – Sizeable Sam – 8/1 @ Bet365 and 1pt win – Only The Bold – 8/1 @ Bet365
All that’s left to do is to you wish you and yours a Happy New Year. See you On New Year’s Day.
Cheers
John