Evening all,
There’s a short pause for breath on Friday before more Grade 1 action at Newbury on New Year’s Eve and of course racing at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. Haydock and Taunton provide the best of today’s action and the former's card in particular looks decent.
Inside today’s main piece I look at the best of the action at Haydock with an in-depth preview of the Haydock feature race.
Haydock
For anyone interested I’m taking a dive into the five handicaps on the Haydock card.
12:30 – One of the lesser handicaps on the card. Trainer Nigel Hawke has his runners in good nick 3-10 in the past 14-days and my tentative pick is his runner Ballymagroarty Boy. The posted a seasonal best this season when 3 ½ length 2nd of 8 at Uttoxeter last time. He’s a previous course winner, stays well and is effective on testing ground.
1:00 – Just the three runners for this Novices' Limited Handicap Chase which is a shade disappointing. Light on numbers but not quality as all three have strong claims.
Crystal Glory jumped soundly when making a winning chase debut at Hexham. He’s open to plenty of improvement in the sphere.
Gold Cup Bailly is a rare runner at the track for Irish trainer Stuart Crawford. He’s won his both starts over fences and jumped particularly well at Ayr last time.
Iron Bridge was very impressive when winning at Carlisle on his chase debut. However, he ran well below form at Chepstow last time. Probably best to forgive that run and best to judge him on his winning debut over fences. If you want a selection for the race he'd be it.
2:00 – Smalley Decorators Handicap Chase (2m 5 ½ f)
The first of two competitive handicap chases. Chinwag twice a winner over fences last season didn’t seem to stay 2m7f on seasonal return at Lingfield last month. The return to shorter and the fitting of the first time cheekpieces make him of interest.
Young Bull, a three time winner over hurdles in late 2019, ran well on his first two starts over fences but was then off the track for 456-days. Two decent efforts on return early this year including when a 7 lengths 4th of 7 to Saint Palais at Uttoxeter in March. Low mileage over fences and the 8-year-old is capable of better in the sphere for a yard whose runners are going well.
Easy As That is a big chasing type who shaped with encouragement in a match on chase debut (2m) at Chepstow. Both his bumper and hurdle wins came on soft/heavy ground and the step up in trip is likely to suit the 7-year-old.
Two more exposed over fences but competitively weighted are Thomas Macdonagh and Maypole Class. The former was a ½ length 2nd of 12 in last year’s race and is 2lb lower this time around. Had a spin over hurdles on his return and should be spot on fitness wise. Maypole Class put altogether in the jumping department when winning at Carlisle in April. He ran better than his 9th of 11 on seasonal return at Exeter last time suggests. As he was still in contention when blundering two out.
2:30 – Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle (2m 3f)
Stainsby Girl got an enterprising ride from the front when winning a C&D handicap last month. Up 5lb and unlikely to get her own way out in front today. The forecast strong pace brings both Fine Casting and Esprit Du Large into the mix.
Fine Casting has placed on both starts this season. He came in for strong market support (8/15 fav) when a ½ length 3rd of 5 at Doncaster three weeks ago. Both last season’s hurdle successes came on rain softened ground which he seems likely to get for the first time this season.
Esprit Du Large, a former Grade 1 winning novice chaser hasn’t been the easiest to keep sound in recent seasons. Hard to know what to expect from the 8-year-old on his return from a 11 month absence but at least the soft ground will suit, and he’s been given a chance by the handicapper.
3:00 – Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (3m 4 ½ f)
This Class 2 contest wouldn’t be out of place on a Saturday card. Thirteen have been declared and you can make some sort of case for ten or eleven of them.
Last time out Carlisle winner Morning Spirit heads the ‘early bird’ betting. It was a well deserved first success over fences for the 7-year-old who showed a likeable attitude and found plenty on the run in. A 5lb rise isn’t harsh but this is a more competitive race. Hold That Taught was a 11 ½ lengths back in fourth that day. That was his first start for nine months and he does get a 7lb pull with the winner here. However, he does need to jump a lot better than he did at Carlisle if he’s to win a race like this.
Good Boy Bobby was a bit of an eyecatcher when 12 length 4th of 10 here last month. He won the valuable Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby last December and can race off 2lb lower now. Good chance he will stay 3m 4f and goes well on testing ground. No easy task off top weight but high the shortlist.
Danilo D'Airy looked a progressive staying handicap chaser when winning at Ffos Las on his seasonal reappearance last season. Subsequently found to be lame when pulling up in the Eider Chase on his final start. He was well supported before that race (13/2) and isn’t out of this if ready to roll first time.
Plenty more in the mix…..
Conquredalofeurope had useful form in handicap chases over shorter in Ireland last season. And was still in the mix when brought down two out in the Ulster National. That run gives hope this trip will be within his stamina range. Shaped with plenty of promise when a 4 length 2nd of 7 at Wetherby on stable/seasonal debut last time. Despite being 3lb out of the weights he looks to have a good chance.
Jimmy The Digger gained a second success over fences in an amateurs riders handicap chase at Cheltenham two starts back. And arguably ran just as well when 3 ¾ length 4th of 10 back their last time. Both chase wins have come on good so softer ground is a bit an unknown. Yard still going well.
Enqarde’s two best RPR’s have come here (3m 1f). However, he didn’t stay over the distance on heavy ground when pulling up in the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase in February. Competitively weighted and provided its not to testing could stay the trip.
Dr Kananga failed to meet market expectations (8/1) when a well beaten 16th of 22 in the Becher Handicap Chase last time. Today’s softer ground is more suitable, but he needs to bounce back big time.
Samuel Jackson is a staying handicapper well suited to soft ground. A respectable 3rd of 9 at Bangor on his seasonal reappearance last month. This is a hotter race but he’s 2lb below his last winning mark and has a chance.
Deise Aba was below par in the London National last time. However, he's not handicapped out of this on a going day.
Niceandeasy was still in with a chance when falling two out in the Borders National last time, but this is a better race.
Friday Selection
It’s been a tough festive period for yours truly on the punting front. I’m finding the winners are on my race shortlist’s. Which means I must be doing something right. However, I’m just going in with the wrong ones as my final picks. Mind you there have plenty of seconds and a couple of those go in and everything looks different from a profit & loss perspective. Still, I’m happy with my race reading and of course these things tend to balance out over the long term. And right on cue Bill Baxter goes in at Kelso yesterday.
Haydock provides today’s selection. I’m expecting a better performance from Iron Bridge than last time in the novices handicap chase. As for the other two handicap chases, I haven’t finalised my selections for either race. And no doubt be backing more than one in each race.
So, it comes down to a choice between Ballymagroarty Boy and Fine Casting and I’ve gone with the former. I was hoping for 5/1 about his chance but 4s are fair enough without leaving much room for our old friend ‘value'.
Haydock
12:30 – Ballymagroarty Boy – 4/1 @ Bet365.
Good luck with your Friday bets.
John