Lark In The Mornin will be on song in Swinton Hurdle
CHRIS WRIGHT AIMS TO BE FIRST PAST THE FINISHING POST WITH TODAY’S TOP TIPS
LARK In The Mornin can win the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.15pm) at Haydock Park this afternoon.
Irish raiders have been taking plenty of the big National Hunt prizes for the past six months and they can land the feature on the only mixed Jumps and Flat meeting in Britain on Merseyside.
Last month Willie Mullins took the biggest handicap on Merseyside with I Am Maximus landing the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse and Joseph O’Brien can also score with Lark In The Mornin at Aintree’s sister track.
The last Irish trainer to win the prestigious two-mile contest at Haydock was Jessica Harrington with Mac Joy in 2005. But more and more of the top prizes are being targeted by those from the Emerald Isle now.
And this year’s Swinton Hurdle is no different with O’Brien sending the smart Lark In The Mornin across the Irish Sea.
The four-year-old won on the Flat at Listowel and has taken to hurdling well. He was second at Punchestown on his hurdling debut in November and third back at the same venue in January.
Lark In The Mornin finally broke his duck in fine style on his handicap debut at the Cheltenham Festival, landing a smooth success in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Prestbury Park, and looks to have the ideal profile as a young up-andcoming hurdler to match those who have done well in the Swinton.
The race is, as ever, a very competitive contest with Paul Nicholls’ duo Afadil and Rare Middleton, the Olly Murphytrained Pickanumber and All The Glory – from the Jonjo and son AJ O’Neill stable – all having a chance.
Nicholls may win the opener, the Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.35pm) with Knowsley Road.
The seven-year-old won back over hurdles at Taunton, having disappointed on his two chase starts at Newbury and Ffos Las earlier in the season. He seems more at home over the smaller obstacles and despite a 4lb rise in the handicap, he may be able to score again.
On the Flat at Haydock Poet Master can win the Listed Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes (3.50pm).
Karl Burke’s four-year-old won over course and distance last year and has four victories from his five career starts so far.
He returned to action with a handicap success at Newmarket last month and stepped up to Listed company for the first time the gelded son of Lope De Vega can go in again. William Haggas’ Winterfair can build on a recent third at Lingfield to triumph in the Pertemps Network Handicap (2.10pm).
A winner at Wolverhampton back in October, the Kitten’s Joy filly made a pleasing return to action and is open to more improvement having had just three career starts so far. She can score ahead of chiefly James Tate’s Sunny Street.
Another course and distance winner, Liangel Hope, can go in again in the Pertemps Handicap (2.45pm).
Chris Mason’s five-year-old won at Haydock in August 2022 and although he has only triumphed twice since – the latest at Brighton this time last year – he is back down to a reasonable handicap mark and may return to winning ways.
Liangel Hope was second to Twilight Dancer at Brighton last month and should be able to go one better at Haydock.
Ed Bethell’s Minstrel Knight was third over a mile at Haydock last month and can grab a first victory stepped up to 1m2f in the Pertemps Newton Handicap (5pm).
Nicky Henderson’s debutant Doctor Midas can make a winning
Trainer Joseph O’Brien
Lark In The Mornin, ridden by JJ Slevin, on the way to winning the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March – he may score again at Haydock
LINGFIELD NOTTINGHAM
WARWICK
TOMORROW’S NAP:
(Newcastle 7pm)
start in the Pertemps Network ‘Junior’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (4.25pm).
At Ascot, Richard Fahey’s Ramazan can win the Lavazza & Ascot 10 Year Anniversary Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap) (2.40pm).
The four-year-old won at Haydock and Chepstow last summer and was a fine second, beaten just a neck by Significantly, in the Ayr Gold Cup in September.
He has been runner-up again twice since when stepped up to seven furlongs at Redcar and then Thirsk last month.
He is a very consistent performer and looks to hold a decent chance of another victory from what looks a decent highish draw in stall 18.
Marco Botti’s Magico – a winner of his last two starts at Pontefract and Kempton last year – can bring up the treble on his return to action in the Carey Group Handicap (3.45pm).
Another chasing a hat-trick of wins – the Willie Muir and Chris Grassick-trained Avon Light – can bring up that treble in the Mariner Systems Fillies’ Handicap (4.20pm). The four-year-old filly has won on the all-weather at Kempton and Chelmsford City and can score again back on Turf.
Strike Red
James Horton’s King Of The Plains – a winner at Newcastle back in September – can score again in the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap (1.30pm).
Others who can win in Berkshire are Ed Walker’s Rose Prick in the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (2.05pm); the Robert Cowell-trained Hallasan in the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Novice Stakes (GBB Race) (3.10pm); and Alcazan – from the Roger Teal stable – in the Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Blue Ribbon Handicap (4.55pm).
At Lingfield, Aidan O’Brien’s Illionois can book his ticket to be part of the Ballydoyle maestro’s Epsom team with victory in the Listed William Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (Colts & Geldings) (3pm).
O’Brien already has the market leader for the Betfred Derby – 2,000 Guineas flop City Of Troy – and is building up his usual big squad at the Trials, which have taken place at Chester this week, at Lingfield, Leopardstown and York next week.
Illinois can advertise his Classic claims with victory in the Lingfield Trial which O’Brien used as a stepping stone for 2019 Derby winner Anthony van Dyck. Illinois won his first two career starts and was third to stable-mate Los Angeles in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud.