As a mixture of rain, sleet and snow batter against the window it is hard to imagine that racing is going ahead at Ascot and Haydock this weekend. Amazingly, both courses report confidence that the meetings will go ahead.
We have reviewed the Grand National Trial at Haydock in some depth and pinned our hopes to Hawkes Point and Merry King. It will be fascinating to see how Mr McCoy gets along with Merry King but I am not expecting miracles. Although the jockey has seemingly ridden millions of winners, I seem to have a negative impact on his chances more often than not!
Both Hawkes Point and Our Father have entries at Ascot and Haydock and I am assuming that they will be heading north if both meetings survive. At the moment they are prominent in the betting at both courses so the market at Ascot is likely to change radically.
Course specialist Houblon Des Obeaux looks to have a difficult task with 11st 10lb while Teaforthree is using this as a stepping-stone to the Grand National. Chance Du Roy ran really poorly at Haydock last time after winning at Aintree. Highland Lodge and Night Alliance both pulled up last time so this is going to be a difficult to predict. With bookmakers likely to take a hefty deduction for the non-runners, the race is probably best left alone.
The two and a half mile handicap hurdle at 3.15 looks extremely competitive. David Pipe’s Heath Hunter is likely to be popular but it is difficult to get too excited about an easy Sedgefield winner, particularly as he emerged from a total fog that day. Like Minded ran extremely well last time out but is unlikely to be improving at the age of ten.
Kaylif Aramis was heavily backed for the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton but dropped away in the closing stages behind Saphir Du Rheu. He had previously finished sixth in the Ladbroke here and perhaps needs this trip to bring out his best.
Nicky Henderson’s Lough Kent is the dark horse here having his first race for the stable. He was a decent sort on the flat in France and won a Conditions chase in October. Bourne has run well here before but his victories are few and far between. It’s a really difficult race to be confident about but Kaylif Aramis makes each-way appeal at around 12-1.
Kaylif Aramis (each-way) at 12-1 William Hill
