Haydock 12.55 - Handicap Hurdle - Class 2 - 3 miles 1/2 furlong - Good to Soft (damp weather) - 14 run

 

At the top end of the market here are Jipcot whose 3rd place at Windsor last time may or may not be reliable form and I Am Max whose Course run over 2 miles 5 and 1/2 furlongs last time was very decent but who steps up in trip here. The Irish are sending over My Trump Card a winner over 2 and 1/2 miles in heavy ground for Elliott who could frankly be anything and Minella Sixo from the same yard. I suspect the betting markets will tell us more about their chances. Supremely West is up 10lbs for a Course and Distance Class 3 win so has to be feared and that left me with a shortlist of 4 of the 14 runners to really focus on.

 

Of the 4 I will reluctantly leave out My Bobby Dazzler who can run prominently and win races off the front, more likely though he will make this a genuine gallop and just get tagged in the closing stages but 16/1 is a decent price.

 

My top 3 are ONE BIG BANG who is a Course and Distance winner and runner up, they take the headgear off which seemed to distract the horse elsewhere last time and a return here off a competitive mark bodes well. KILBARRY HILL and Uncle Bert were 2nd and 1st here over Course and Distance recently and on one pound better terms I fancy KILBARRY HILL to turn the tables here, mostly because a decent Claimer is replaced by Sean Bowen, and you'd have to think that is worth at least 5lbs to the horse. If you want a third poke then, nothing at all against UNCLE BERT he'll be sure to make a bold bid (Northern)

 

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Ascot 1.15 - Handicap Hurdle - Class 3 - 2 miles 7 and 1/2 furlongs - 17 run - Good to Soft (damp weather)

 

At the top of the market there is sure to be a lot of support for Hendersons Bective Abbey on Handicap debut , upped in trip but a 3 mile P2P recruit. If you want a win saver, feel free. Thank You Ma'am is upped in Class and gets a 10lbs penalty for a Course and Distance win last time and this is far more competitive. Blue Hop is the hardest to assess as its recent emphatic Doncaster win was in a race where over half of the obstacles were removed due to a low sun. This one clearly has an engine but that form is impossible to use and prior form is less complimentary. Boston Boy and Jialijone are unexposed types for big Yards who would have to improve to figure but may well do so in time. 

 

At bigger odds the mostly exposed Samuel Spade who may struggle at this trip and the regressive but still competitive Dans Le Vent could run a place on a going day and are far from no hopers and at very big odds those who like a quid each way may have some fun with Striking A Pose at around 33/1 back on it's last winning mark and one to TRACK possibly in a Class 4 .

 

I'm most keen though on DUBROVNIK HARRY who comes with a health warning in terms of his infrequent runs but who clearly has decent form in higher Class races when he has seen the racecourse and a recent run should see him bang in contention here if the ability remains. GREYVAL has been crying out for this trip and whilst the Fergal O'Brien yard has been a bit quieter of late; this one looks very strong today. With 17 runners and enhanced odds the 3rd rated is well worth a poke and is GOLDEN COSMOS a bit of an eyecatcher over an extended 3 miles at Doncaster last time and a nice each way price here. (Advisor)

 

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Gowran Park 2.30 - Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 4 furlongs - Soft - 20 run

 

Plenty to consider here with 20 runners especially with Gavin Cromwell having the top pair in the market and another decent contender.

 

I think both Crescent Moon and Bridies Beau, despite that one has a stone more in weight, are strong favourites and if you want to play a reverse F/Cast then feel free. I prefer them to Thank You Ma'am upped in Class and 7lbs despite its Course and Distance form and also the unexposed Killaney King from the De Bromhead yard. Of worthy mention are the likes of Chosen Thyme who might just need this run despite some OK form fresh, Therellbguddays yet, who drops in trip and with already scratchy jumping issues that may be even more exposed over shorter and Pirate Island, one i really do like medium term but who may still need this run after an early fall last time and one who is in the TRACKER together with Housemartin who will also enjoy the run this time. Camino Rock is another who will benefit for the race but nicely priced and not out of it and the same applies to Slangaibhgleir for Elliott who looks a bit becalmed off current mark but for whom a 7lbs claim made it my 5th best rated outside of the following 4 and the top pair in the market. One Big Boum was the other main consideration.

 

I'm VERY keen on ROUTINE EXCELLENCE and KRABAT here, RE is better than recent form suggests has been freshened up nicely and the trip and handicap mark ideal, he may be Cromwells third string but I think he can come out on top here. KRABAT drops in trip which is a big plus for me off a really nice mark. FIND A FORTUNE for Elliott is less exposed and sure to be competitive and if you want a 4th poke to enhanced places at big odds of over 33/1 then I think ISHAN a hurdle winner and placed off marks up to 104 over the smaller obstacles before going Chasing , could outrun those big odds off a mark of 107 with proven stamina at up to 3 miles in what is sure to be a truly run race pace wise. (Sean / Placespotter)

 

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TRACKERS

 

Ascot 2.25 Rightsotom / Jour D'Evasion

Gowran 2.30 Pirate Island / Housemartin (see tip race analysis both will come on for the run)

Haydock 3.15 - Gaia Des Liteaux / Yeah Man (solid chances)

Gowran 3.42 Lisnager Fortune

Gowran 4.15 Petit King / Noble tRust (solid e/w chances) 

 

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