Tag: Haydock

Haydock Swinton Hurdle Preview

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The new National Hunt season is under way and adjusting to life after Tony McCoy. Haydock stages a mixed card of flat and jump races on Saturday but the feature event is the two-mile Swinton Handicap Hurdle.

The bookmakers have chalked up Handiwork as the early favourite on the strength of his fourth behind Cheltenian at Ayr in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. That title is a little misleading as it is now a handicap and Handiwork is just 2lbs better off with the winner. The Steve Gollings-trained gelding stormed through in the closing stages and he has the assistance of Nico de Boinville in the saddle.

Cheltenian is now nine years of age but has always been a classy performer, winning the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham back in 2011. He was a game second to Violet Dancer at Newbury in the Betfair Hurdle and thoroughly deserved his victory at Ayr.

Tony Martin was narrowly denied in the Chester Cup when Quick Jack was just beaten by Trip To Paris on Wednesday. He is targeting another big handicap here with The Plan Man, a five-year-old son of Jeremy.

He was fourth to Some Article at Fairyhouse in April and got no further than the fourth flight before unseating his rider last time. Evan Williams saddles Court Minstrel and last year’s winner Ballyglasheen and neither has particularly inspiring form figures. The former has been cutting little ice against the top two-mile chasers recently while Ballyglasheen was never a factor at Cheltenham or Aintree.

Brian Ellison is represented by Vodka Wells, a two and a quarter length winner from Harvey’s Hope at Hexham last time. That was his first victory since joining the trainer from France and he could still be improving.

Barizan is another previous winner of this race having won in 2013 but he too has been struggling to show his form of late. Oliver Sherwood saddles Rayvin Black who tried to set the pace at Sandown recently but could not sustain the effort and faded into seventh. He was a very game second to Ebony Express in the Imperial Cup but that was a real slog and it may have taken its toll.

David Pipe’s Rathealy has won modest contests at Plumpton and Warwick, both in very testing ground. He is up 7lbs for his latest win but the one that really catches the eye is Harry Whittington’s Arzal. He ran no sort of race in the Imperial Cup but something was clearly amiss that day and he bolted up at Chepstow last time in a novices’ hurdle.

Handiwork @9-1 Paddy Power

Arzal @9-1 Ladbrokes

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Scoop6 Jackpot set to hit £1.25 million!

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The Scoop6 Jackpot is expected to be close to £1.25 million on Saturday after the win fund eluded punters for a sixth successive week. As you would expect, they have not made it easy for punters with a treacherous looking card at Haydock providing five of the six races plus one from Kempton. In truth, you will probably need psychic powers or a sharp pin to unravel this lot but we’ve done our best to provide a few pointers.

2.00 Haydock

The combination of soft ground and large fields is the order of the day at Haydock starting with a gruelling three and a half mile handicap chase. At first glance, Midlands National third Woodford County has plenty of weight but his rider takes off 7lbs, leaving him just 5lbs higher than the bottom weight. Richard Johnson looks a significant booking on Incentivise who is the only one of these to have won at the distance.

WOODFORD COUNTY, INCENTIVISE

2.25 Haydock

Hindon Road blundered away his chance in a three-mile hurdle at Newbury last time and should go well off 10 stone here for Alan King and Wayne Hutchinson. Tony McCoy will be a popular choice on Upswing who is closely weighted with Gold Futures on recent form but it may be worth taking a chance on Kim Bailey’s Net Work Rouge.

HINDON ROAD, NET WORK ROUGE

2.50 Kempton

This is the only race in the Scoop6 away from the minefield of Haydock. Queen Catrine is a big of an enigma having run a fine race at Royal Ascot but done nothing since. Lady Dutch looks an altogether more straight forward ride for the in-form Marco Botti stable.

LADY DUTCH, QUEEN CATRINE

3.10 Haydock

Back over the jumps for another marathon handicap. King Of The Wolds was an easy winner last time while Astigos makes some appeal off a low weight.

KING OF THE WOLDS, ASTIGOS

3.45 Haydock

It doesn’t get any easier later in the day with another big field for the 888Sport Handicap Chase. Bob Tucker is not the fastest thing on four legs but he keeps galloping while Canuspotit looks fairly treated on his best form.

BOB TUCKER, CANUSPOTIT

4.20 Haydock

If any of you are still standing at this point, Good Luck! Only ten to choose from here! Racing Post ratings put only 6lbs between first and last. Ustica clearly wasn’t himself last time out and is worth another chance while Royale Django stayed on stoutly at Southwell.

USTICA, ROYALE DJANGO

Totesport Scoop 6

Horse Racing Preview February 14th

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Plenty of top quality horse racing action in the UK this weekend from Haydock and Ascot including several Cheltenham and Aintree contenders.

Ptit Zig has been one of the best novice chasers of the season so far and Paul Nicholls is pitching him in against more experienced rivals in the Betfair Ascot Chase. As we suggested in midweek, 11-4 did not last long but 9-4 still looks a decent price for a horse that has hardly put a foot wrong all season. He has won at Ascot before and there is no reason to desert him at this stage.

The pressure will be on Lizzie Kelly in the opening novice event where she rides impressive Lanzarote Hurdle winner Tea For Two. He won that so easily that his trainer is thinking in terms of taking on the best novices at Cheltenham next month and a victory on Saturday would secure his place. I was disappointed with Arpege D’Alene last time out and expect Miss Kelly to complete the hat-trick.

I’m also keen on the chances of Otago Trail later in the card for Venetia Williams. He destroyed his rivals last time out and is clearly well above average. He could take his chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle if he comes through tomorrow’s test with flying colours.

Over at Haydock, I expect to see Top Notch win comfortably in a bitterly disappointing renewal of the Victor Ludorum Hurdle at 1.45. Top Notch races in the same colours as Triumph favourite Peace And Co so it would be no surprise if Nicky Henderson elected to save him for Aintree instead. We put up Benbens earlier in the week at 10-1 and he is still available at 9-1 for the Grand National Trial. I was tempted to support Monbeg Dude but I’m put off by how far he got behind here in 2013. I’m sure he will run a good trial for Aintree nonetheless.

The three-mile hurdle looks wide open but it may be worth taking a chance on Bygones Sovereign at 10-1. He won by 28 lengths at Newbury last time when he stole a march on his rivals. I’d be surprised if the other jockeys allow him so much rope this time but he still races off 10st despite a 13lbs rise in the handicap.

The most popular double of the day has to be Tea For Two and Teaforthree. I was surprised how easily the 2013 National runner-up won over two and a half miles last time and he looked full of himself. I’d expect him to follow up in the last at Haydock.

Tea For Two 1.30 Ascot @4-7 Bet365

Benbens 2.55 Haydock @10-1*

Bygones Sovereign 3.25 Haydock @10-1 Bet365

Ptit Zig 3.50 Ascot @11-4*

Otago Trail 4.20 Ascot @5-4 William Hill

Teaforthree 5.05 Haydock @4-6 Betfair

*Ante-post

Haydock Grand National Trial Preview

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The Betfred Grand National Trial at Haydock is the big betting race this weekend. It has not always lived up to its billing with trainers reluctant to give their National horses a hard race in testing ground ahead of the Aintree marathon.

One horse that definitely has Aintree as his main objective is Monbeg Dude, seventh behind Pineau de Re in April. He ran in this race two years ago when coming from a different county to finish third behind Well Refreshed. The going was heavy that day and he carried 10st 12lb. On Saturday he is set to race off 11st 11lb and the conditions may well be similar if the forecast rain arrives.

On the plus side, he has run two excellent National trials this season when fourth in the Hennessy at Newbury and fourth in the Welsh National at Chepstow. The latter race often holds the key here and four of the first five are entered this weekend. Benvolio carried our each-way support and was unlucky to be beaten on the nod by Emperor’s Choice after a real battle over the final few fences.

Glenquest has looked set to spring a 33-1 shock when leading between the last two but the Irish challenger just got weary on the run-in and hung away to his left. He has not raced since but cannot be discounted off only a 4lbs higher mark. The stable landed a nice gamble with Yes Tom at Ayr in midweek and Glenquest won’t mind how deep the ground gets.

Benbens is another who is at his best when the mud is flying and he ran a super race at the last meeting here when just failing to catch Samstown. He looks a hard ride and Ryan Hatch will have to earn his fee. More importantly, Hatch claims 5lbs which means Benbens is 10lbs better off with Samstown for a neck and has an extra half mile to travel. Providing that race did not take too much out of him, he is going to be difficult to keep out of the frame.

Lucinda Russell won this race in consecutive seasons with Silver By Nature and could run Lie Forrit. He was a good hurdler a few years ago and has gradually improved over fences. Rigadin de Beauchene won this last year but has pulled up on all three subsequent starts.

Benbens @10-1 Betfair

Each-way ¼ odds, 1,2,3,4

Horse Racing Preview 17th January

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The attention of the horse racing world will be firmly on Sprinter Sacre as he is expected to make his long-awaited return to action in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

Trainer Nicky Henderson is understandably nervous about the prospect, just over a year after the horse was pulled up with a fibrillating heart at Kempton. He has been given the best possible veterinary care since and would not be risked unless everyone was happy with his condition. Even so, it will still be remarkable if he is able to bounce back with a win.

Not since my 33-1 bet on Yahoo was denied by Desert Orchid have I been happy to see my horse finish second but I am going to oppose Sprinter Sacre on Saturday. I felt that Dodging Bullets put up a first class display to win the Tingle Creek and is over-priced at 3-1. He is probably not in the same league as the favourite but there must be a big doubt about Sprinter Sacre’s fitness.

Whatever happens with his stable star, Henderson should be in the winner’s enclosure at the start and the finish of the card. I was impressed with Top Notch on his debut and he looks to have an easy task in the first. He will undoubtedly be shortened for the Triumph Hurdle if he does win so I’m going to have a small each-way ante-post investment.

Likewise, Out Sam should underline his festival claims in the last. He only won a four-horse race at Newbury last time but all of his three rivals that day have come out and won since. They include last weekend’s embarrassingly easy Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle winner Tea For Two. It will be a major shock if Out Sam is beaten on Saturday and the Neptune looks likely to be his festival target.

Haydock has to survive an 8am inspection with frost and snow threatening the meeting. The New One is expected to take another step towards the Champion Hurdle in a weak trial so the main betting interest is in the Peter Marsh Chase. Broadway Buffalo easily beat Toby Lerone here in the Tommy Whittle but I was disappointed with him at Wetherby last time. The ground cannot get too heavy for Toby Lerone so he is the each-way selection.

They are racing on the all-weather at Lingfield and Godolphin can land a quick double with Emirates Skycargo and History Book. The latter is trying her hand at sprinting after being edged out over a mile and seven furlongs. She has bags of early speed and is worth a chance at around 9-2. Andrew Balding’s Melvin The Grate can land the featured Ladbrokes Handicap at 2.35 after coming from last to first on his most recent start.

Top Notch 12.40 Ascot @4-7 Bet365

Emirates Skycargo 1.25 Lingfield @4-5 Betfair

History Book 2.0 Lingfield @9-2 Coral

Melvin The Grate 2.35 Lingfield @7-4 Coral

Dodging Bullets 3.00 Ascot @3-1 Coral

Toby Lerone 3.15 Haydock @10-1 Skybet

Out Sam 3.35 Ascot @4-6 Bet365

*Ante-post

*Top Notch – Triumph Hurdle @20-1 William Hill

*Out Sam – Neptune Hurdle @16-1 William Hill

Haydock Saturday Preview

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The Betfair Chase at Haydock is the highlight of Saturday’s National Hunt action. Last year it was won by Cue Card who defeated Dynaste and Silviniaco Conti. All three are back again this year via very different routes.

Cue Card looked like winning the King George before being outstayed by Silviniaco Conti. Dynaste ran poorly but returned to win the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival. The picture is further confused by the recent Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in which Menorah beat Taquin Du Seuil with Silviniaco Conti fading into fifth place. I am just going to side with David Pipe’s Dynaste who clearly wasn’t right at Kempton last year and could yet make a Gold Cup horse.

The New One should not have much difficulty in winning the 1.50 and taking another step towards the Champion Hurdle. I was impressed with Aurore D’Estruval at Wetherby and she could run well for John Quinn but it will be a major shock if anything can trouble the favourite.

The Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle has attracted a really strong field headed by Volnay De Thaix. Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old carries 12 stone including a 5lbs penalty for his recent win at Huntingdon. He absolutely bolted up that day and is going to be difficult to beat.

Katkeau also carries a penalty for beating Big Easy at Cheltenham. The runner-up looked like providing yet another winner for the in-form Philip Hobbs stable and should run another big race here. I also have a sneaking fancy for the Irish horse Dara Tango who recently won on the flat at Catterick. He was awarded the race after being hampered close home by Jolie Blonde and that should have put him spot on for his return to hurdling.

The 1.15 is an equally competitive race with Morito Du Berlais going for a hat-trick for Paul Nicholls. He was always travelling comfortably behind the leaders that day and did well to quicken up after a sticky jump at the final flight.

The big danger here is the Evan Williams-trained On Tour. It isn’t often you see the jockey taking a pull at the last in a two and a half mile handicap hurdle but Paul Moloney had to fight to hold on to On Tour at Stratford. He needed to shake him up when challenged on his outside by Go West Young Man. The handicapper has put him up 9lbs but that may not be enough to stop him.

On Tour 1.15 @5-1 Coral

Volnay De Thaix 2.25 @9-2 Stan James

Dara Tango 2.25 @14-1 Bet Victor (each-way)

Dynaste 3.00 @9-2 Paddy Power