ON MES-SAGE
Have faith in the Lord and O’Brien to slog it out in the Haydock mud
THANK the Lord in the William Hill Grand National Trial.
This is a race that rewards the strongest stayers capable of jumping, galloping and coping with knee-deep mud.
Those conditions bring the best out of LORD DU MESNIL (2.40). He made all the running to land the Tommy Whittle Chase at this track last season before following up over this afternoon’s course and distance nine days later for today’s rider Paul O’Brien.
For much of last year’s Grand National Trial he looked like he was going to complete a hat-trick of Haydock wins but he was just run out of it late on.
Richard Hobson’s ace has had excuses for his below-par performances this season and this will be much more to his liking.
Have 2pts each-way at 15-2 with Sky Bet and William Hill both paying out on four places. YALLTARI (2.25) is starting to look very well weighted in the Swinley Chase at Ascot.
The furious early pace at this track last month meant he got a little too far back but I liked the way he moved for much of
the contest.
His best form has come when ridden more prominently so I’m hoping he is able to lay up with the gallop a little easier this time.
Testing ground suits Venetia with three top fancies
Williams’ grey so he has plenty in his favour.
Have 1pt each way at 10-1 with most firms going four places.
STOLEN SILVER (3.00) has been chasing this season but he could appreciate the return to hurdling at Ascot.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’s hope was a decent novice hurdler last term. He was a wide-margin winner in the Ffos Las mud before chasing home Chantry House at Cheltenham.
His victory in a Haydock Grade 2 also came on testing ground and he’s always looked likely to appreciate the step up to this 2m3f distance. There’s been nothing wrong with his chase efforts behind
the likes of Eldorado Allen and Allmankind but this big field is much more up his street.
He should be able to sit behind the leaders and see it out up the straight. Have 1pt each-way at 11-1. Most bookies are paying out on five places but Sky Bet are offering six.
ACHILLE can bring his rivals to heel in the William Hill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (2.40) at Haydock today.
To take the £42,713 first prize back to Venetia Williams’ Herefordshire stable, my selection must turn round last month’s Classic Chase running at Warwick with favourite Notachance.
That afternoon, the Alan King-trained winner had half a length to spare over Achille, who was coming home with a wet sail under Charlie Deutsch.
The 11-year-old Achille who gets a 2lb pull for the winning distance, doesn’t have the upwardly mobile profile of his rival, who has just turned seven.
But Williams’ (right) stayer is entitled to strip fitter for a 427-day absence leading up to Warwick, and Achille can be backed at more than double the odds on offer about the market leader.
It’s not hard to see the claims of EMITOM in the William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle (2.05). Warren Greatrex’s seven-yearold was a beaten favourite in two attempts over fences in October, and has had a breathing operation since.
But of greater significance is Emitom’s form over hurdles – he captured this race by eight lengths last year en route to a fine fourth to Lisnagar Oscar in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
At Ascot, JERRYSBACK has plenty going for him in the “My Oddsboost” On Betfair Swinley Chase (2.25).
After a 399-day lay-off, the Philip Hobbs trainee came home strongly for a fivelength third to all-the-way scorer Dashel Drasher over two miles and five here last month, and the return to three miles is a definite plus.
Hobbs and Richard Johnson have sound prospects of an ITV double, courtesy of PILEON in the Betfair Cheltenham Free Bet Pot Builder Handicap Hurdle (3.00), now the Festival runner-up has had a disappointing chase career cut short.
The Bateaux London Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (1.50) can go to novice-on-the-up SEVARANO. Wincanton’s Betway Kingwell Hurdle (3.18) went to SONG FOR SOMEONE when it was rescheduled at Kempton last February, and Aidan Coleman’s partner is ripe for a repeat.