Scorpion Sid to strike back at Haydock

Scorpion Sid can make up for an early departure last time out with victory in the Bravo Inns Chase at Haydock tomorrow.

Jamie Snowden has always thought a fair bit of the lightly-raced seven-year-old since he bolted up on his racecourse debut.

Still far from the finished article, Scorpion Sid was not quite up to it when Snowden tested his mettle early this season against Kalashnikov at Warwick - but he then made no mistake next time at Haydock.

While only two finished that day, it worked well as a confidence booster - but he was an early casualty in a competitive little handicap last time out at this same track.

Sent off favourite, a blunder atthethirdfencegavehisjockey no chance.

Snowden is happy to return to Haydock again on Wednesday, though, and a clear run should make him the one to beat.

It will be a while until Emma Lavelle comes down from cloud nine after the last few days.

She, of course, won the Stayers’ Hurdle with Paisley Park undoubtedly the best horse she has ever trained - and then took a valuable race at Uttoxeter on Saturday with De Rasher Counter.

Her Viva Vittoria has some way to go before reaching those heights, but the five-year-old mare is on the right path at least.

Second at Plumpton and Warwick before winning at Market Rasen last time out, she stayed on strongly to prevail over two and a half miles.

She needed every single yard of that trip, so it is no surprise to see her over an extra two furlongs on this occasion, and the extra distance can help her negate a 5lb rise.

Whoshotthesherrif has left Gordon Elliott to join Phil Kirby, but remains with the same ownership syndicate.

While that may seem a strange move to some, a large proportion of his owners, Hambleton Racing Ltd, are based in the north - so it makes more logistical sense from that point of view.

A winner at Ayr on his penultimate outing for Elliott, beating a fair sort, he was not disgraced behind smart former stablemate Galvin most recently at Naas.

Galvin ran a blinder at Cheltenham last week when sixth in the Ballymore to City Island - and Whoshotthesherrif was previously only five lengths behind him, albeit in receipt of 7lb.

Nevertheless, that run makes him the one to beat in the Mansionbet “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle at Market

Rasen.

TIPS: Chepstow: 2.20 Jimmy Bell, 2.50 Pine Warbler, 3.25 Quoi De Neuf, 4.00 Larkbarrow Lad, 4.30 Pull Together, 5.05 Sirop De Menthe.

Haydock: 2.10 Captain Moirette, 2.40 Viva Vittoria, 3.15 Scorpion Sid (Nap), 3.50 Ettila De Sivola, 4.20 Halo Moon, 4.55 HearTheChimes,5.25Corrany.

Market Rasen: 2.00 Whoshotthesherrif, 2.30 Dew Pond, 3.05 Emerald Chieftan, 3.40 Uno Valoroso, 4.10 Discay, 4.45 Sea Of Mystery, 5.15 Molly Ollys Wishes.

H Please note there is no race cards today due to no 48-hour declarations.