Mullins’ Minella to strike Gold as Rhoscolyn to star
RHOSCOLYN can win the trustatrader.com Handicap (2.45pm) at Haydock Park’s first Flat meeting of the season, while Minella Cocooner can strike in the bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.35pm) on the final day of the Jumps campaign at Sandown this afternoon.
With Willie Mullins looking set to land the British trainers’ title following the Randox Grand National victory of I Am Maximus at Aintree Racecourse two weeks ago and Macdermott’s success in the Scottish version at Ayr seven days ago, anything he is sending over to Britain to clinch the championship deserves a second look.
And of his three set to line up in the feature at the Esher track, Minella Cocooner looks likely to strike Gold.
The eight-year-old has only won one of his eight chase starts but appears to be progressing well and has rarely run a bad race. He was a fine third in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse at the start of the month, when beaten just four lengths by Intense Raffles.
He looks a progressive staying chaser – one of many in Mullins’ County Carlow stable – and he can bring the Irish trainer another big staying handicap success, confirm a first title success in Britain and see him emulate the legendary Vincent O’brien in winning championships on both sides of the Irish Sea in the same season.
Last year’s winner Kitty’s Light – a fine fifth behind I Am Maximus in the Aintree showpiece two weeks ago – will surely go close again in defence of his crown having quickly backed up his Scottish National victory at Sandown 12 months ago.
Others with a chance of running into a place are Dan Skelton’s Le Milos; the Lydia Richards-trained Certainly Red and Annual Invictus, from the Chris Gordon stable.
In the trustatrader.com Handicap on Mereyside, David O’meara’s Rhoscolyn can score. The six-yearold was a course and distance winner at Haydock back in August 2020 and has had some success since, mostly at his beloved Goodwood in soft conditions.
Rhoscolyn looks to have his ideal conditions – seven furlongs on heavy ground at a track he clearly acts on. He was last of five on his seasonal return at Thirsk last week. But that should have blown off the cobwebs and he can go close to his eighth career success.
Richard Fahey’s Havana Rum can win the Trustatrader Fully Vetted Tradespeople Handicap (2.10pm). The four-year-old won twice at Newcastle and Catterick last season and ran some decent races in defeat. He made a pleasing return when fourth back on his seasonal reappearance at Catterick. Off a handicap mark just 2lb higher than for his last win, he may be able to come out on top in the six-furlong sprint where you can make a case for several in the field.
Kevin Ryan’s Welcome Dream may land a first success in the opener at Haydock, the Trustatrader Apply Today Handicap (1.40pm).
The three-year-old was third on his seasonal return at Newcastle in February. And with that run under his belt, he may go a couple of places better stepped into handicap company for the first time.
The George Scott-trained Shelbourne – a winner at Catterick earlier this month – may go in again in the Darley EBF Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (3.20pm).
Ralph Beckett’s daughter of Gleneagles, Shemozzle, may score on her seasonal return in the Trustatrader EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (3.53pm).
The three-year-old filly won at Newmarket in October and could make up in a decent type with another victory on Merseyside.
Others who can win at Haydock are the Tom Dascombe-trained Nellie Leylax in the Trustatrader
You Can Trust Our Traders Handicap (4.28pm) and Brian Ellison’s Northern Cracksman in the finale, the Trustatrader Approved And Reviewed Trades People Handicap (5pm).
Back at Sandown, another Mullins raider, El Fabiolo, can bounce back to win the Grade One bet365 Celebration Chase (GBB
Race) (3pm). The sevenyear-old was unbeaten in six chase starts heading into the Cheltenham Festival last month and was a warm favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
But having jumped badly early on, he was pulled up. He is clearly much better than that and he looks the one to beat if there is no lasting damage from that poor effort at Prestbury Park earlier in the year.
Recent Melling Chase hero Jonbon should make it another fine match-up between the two rivals, but if El Fabiolo is on his game he can stay out in front.
Harry Fry’s Boothill – who has fallen on his last two starts – could be in the shake-up if he can stay on his feet, but otherwise El Fabiolo should win.
Mullins may land at least a treble as he secures the trainers’ title with Easy Game in with a good chance of winning the Grade Two bet365 Oaksey Chase (For The Menorah Challenge Trophy) (GBB Race) (2.25pm).
The 10-year-old also needs to put behind him a poor run when pulled up in the Melling Chase at Aintree.
Back down in grade and judged on his fine victory in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran Park he may be able to get back to winning ways.
Another Mullins raider, recent Aintree winner Impaire Et Passe, can get the better of Dan Skelton’s Langer Dan again in the Grade Two bet365 Select Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.10pm). The six-year-old only narrowly beat Langer Dan in the Aintree Hurdle and also had to survive a stewards’ inquiry having come across his rival. It is arguable that his veering across the track cost the winner more and he can confirm the form with another victory.
Paul Robson’s Cannock Park can take the opener, the bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.50pm).