With Ascot already washed out I am hoping that Haydock’s card survives tomorrow morning’s inspection.
We will get a better idea of just how good Afsoun is tomorrow in the Champion Hurdle trial at 1.25. His future is over fences I would imagine but it is quite possible that he is not far off top class over the smaller obstacles. Irish raider Mounthenry is a serious threat as he acts on the ground and actually stays further, which in the conditions is no bad thing. Mister McGoldrick does most of his winning at Wetherby but deserves to win a prize like this. He has been a grand servant to Sue Smith’s team and could just cause an upset.
Arcalis hasn’t won since taking the Fighting Fifth in 2005. That was on soft ground but most of his form has been on a sound surface. I will side with Afsoun.
The Peter Marsh Chase looks an open contest. Wild Cane Ridge will appreciate this slog in the mud and if his jumping stands up he could be in the shake up. Turpin Green is difficult to assess. He ran no sort of race on his last outing but clearly has plenty of ability. Like Wild Cane Ridge though he also has plenty of weight!
Old Truckers Tavern is a course and distance winner and goes on the ground. He also has a low weight. The grey Strong Resolve is another course and distance winner and seems to go on any ground. He has a low weight and must be considered. Apart from Turpin Green there are two other horses from our list to follow, Model Son and Snakebite. Model Son has a win in heavy ground at Carlisle on his CV but his recent form has not been encouraging. Snakebite is a promising chaser and has won on heavy ground. He looks a progressive type. Irish Raptor has been in good form but I am not quite sure if he is good enough in this company.
This is a tricky race to assess but for my selection I am going for Leading Man. A winner last time out all his career wins have come with plenty of give in the ground.
In the 2.20 our list to follow is represented by Astarador. After winning a couple of small races by wide margins he was a very creditable 3rd at Sandown behind Silverburn last time and should go well here. He may have to give best to Amaretto Rose of Nicky Henderson’s. This one was an impressive winner at Ascot and clearly revels in the mud.
My Way de Solzen should take the 3.20. The Cool Guy reappears here after a 384 day absence having suffered ligament problems.
There are a couple of interesting runners in the 3.30. Rood Report comes from an in form yard and has been second in bumpers at Chepstow and Hereford. He is making his hurdles debut. Hopkins is a half brother to chaser Billyvoddan. He was 2nd at Chepstow last time.
Lenny the Blade represents the list to follow in the 1.15 at Wincanton. He was 11th of 18 on his debut at Exeter. He is a son of Derby runner up Master Willie out of a winning hurdler. He needs to find a bit to take a hand here but he should find a race or two eventually.
Grecian Groom has been one of the stars of my list to follow having come in at 33/1 at Lingfield. That was in heavy ground although he also acts on a sound surface. I am hoping he will follow up in the 1.45 although there is a runner from Paul Nicholls stable, Breedsbreeze, that could present a problem.
Prince Azzurro was 2nd at Ludlow last time on ground that was quicker than ideal. He lines up for Henry Daly in the 2.15. Supreme Catch and Alphabetical both won last time out. Although they have gone up the handicap as a result both are quite lightly raced and may still be competitive off their revised marks in the 2.50.
Ben’s Turn was almost certainly unsuited by the slow pace when beaten at Kempton last time and may get back to winning ways for Alan King in the 3.20.
Buster Collins won a novice hurdle at Plumpton before falling over fences. He reverts to hurdles here and could go well at a decent price. Another with an each way chance is Joli Classical.
We have a couple of list horses down to run in the 3.50. Model Son is also entered up at Haydock. I am just a bit unsure about him at the minute and prefer to keep a watching brief. The other list runner is All in the Stars. He seems to have lost his way of late after running some cracking races last season. I tipped him last time he ran and he was well beaten so I am going top sidestep him here. Irish Raptor could go well if taking up this engagement.
Amour Multiple is trained by Shaun Lycdett and is very much his stable star. His win at Hereford last time out was a career best effort and he clearly handles soft ground well. He seeks to follow up in the 4.25 and coming from a little know stable may start at a false price. The Hairy Lemon, trained by Alan King is on an upward curve, will handle the ground and is ridden by a useful claimer. He is the other one I like in this race.
I don’t have time to preview the meeting at Naas I am afraid.
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