Haydock Preview 🐎

🐎The listed mares hurdle sees a 5 runner contest that features the highly respected You Wear It Well who will be expected to put on another magnificent performance, however there is another eye-catching mare that should give all of her rivals a good battle, and that is the progressive Windtothelightning. Windtothelightning is a young mare trained by Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero for owners G C Myddleton and V E C Taylor and her form reads 3111314. She has seen victories in the form of a 12 length win at Sedgefield, a 9 length win at Wetherby, a 5 length win at Wetherby and a close finish with the respected Ruby Island. She finished 3rd out of 17 runners at Cheltenham, only 1 1/2 length of the winner in Malaita, and 4th out of 10 runners at Cheltenham in December when looking like the winner a long way out before hitting the front too early and short of room on the run in. She is a tough, honest mare who will give this race her all and her strong, big build means she is able to power through any ground. Her odds will offer more value than Jamie Snowden’s You Wear It Well and it could be worth looking at seeking value via a forecast. 

🐎My selection for the 1:37 is Good Work, a consistent sort who is yet to win a race but has been runner up 7 times. He was second 6 consecutive times before having a break of 179 days and finishing 9th out of 19 runners upon his return at Cheltenham, only 8 lengths of the winner in Mole Court, when staying on strongly towards the end of the race. He was then dropped down in trip to 2 mile 3 when never looking involved in the race and pulled up at Wetherby, but he then returned to form when finishing his typical second at Bangor. He looked to have every chance approaching the last but was swallowed up by Venetia William’s Hold That Taught, who had beaten the highly respected Tea Clipper by 1 1/4 lengths at Ascot on his previous start. He drops down again to 2 mile 3 here, but proving that he is back in form at Bangor last time out in similarly testing conditions, he should be thereabouts. 

🐎The Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle consists of four interesting runners, over a trip of 1 mile 7f. Gary Moore’s Salver looks a justifiable favourite, winning on all of his hurdle starts over 2 miles. Most recently, Salver went to a Grade 2 race at Chepstow when winning impressively by 21 lengths, leaving the admirable Balboa in second. The talented Caolin Quinn is in the saddle and him partnered with Gary Moore provides punters with a duo that is extremely in-form and that offers lots of appeal. His most threatening rival in Castelfort finished 4 lengths behind Balboa on his rules debut, who Salver finished 12 lengths ahead of in his career best performance, and although I wouldn’t be surprised if this form could be reversed as they both appear to be progressive types, Salver seems the safer option here. 

🐎Butch appears to be more than capable of winning the Rendleshsm Hurdle, as his 2023 form reads 1211 and he won on his first 2024 appearance on New Years Day at Cheltenham. He stays the 3 miles vital for this race and with a sire of Kayf Tara, powers through and seemingly enjoys testing conditions. He carries 11.2 stone whilst the joint favourite in Gary Moore’s Botox Has carries 11.8 stone. His usual jockey in Sean Bowen, who partnered with him for 2 out of his 3 victories over 3 miles returns to the saddle. This 7 year old should take this challenge in his stride and I’d expect him to be well in the frame in a race that should suit him well. 

🐎The Grand National Trial needs a stayer who will be able to handle possibly testing conditions and Iwilldoit exceeds these expectations. He loves a marathon trip and is seen at his best on soft and heavy ground. He wasn’t seen on the track for 383 days before making his return and showing his determination when winning in January 2023 in a class 1 grade 3 race at Warwick over 3 mile 5. He then stepped up in trip to 4 mile 2 at Uttoxeter for the Midlands Grand National, finishing 5th out of 17 runners. He then had a 238 day break before his reappearance at Aintree over 3 miles, battling to the line to finish second to Gentleman At Arms. He then stepped up to 3 mile 6 for the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow in extremely testing conditions, finishing third but 34 lengths behind the mud-loving Nassalam - it’s important to note that only 5 runners finished the race, separated by 84 lengths, showing how testing the ground was. He then drastically stepped down in trip to 2 mile 6 when finishing 21 lengths behind the winner, L’Homme Presse. I can imagine stepping back up in trip to 3 mile 4 will see him back at his best and this stayer should be able to handle the expected heavy ground. Similarly, Highland Hunter loves a marathon trip and will handle the ground, but his form is held by IWillDoIt as he was seen finishing  21 lengths behind him in the 2021 Welsh National. 

🐎J’ai Froid won four consecutive races for Laura Morgan in 2021, recording a 22 length victory at Ayr, a 7 length victory at Doncaster, and a 13 length victory at Warwick. He also finished a close second in a class 1 race at Aintree when beginning a losing streak of almost 2 years but ending this with an impressive performance over 2 miles at Leicester in November 2023. Only 5 lengths separated the runners in testing conditions, but J’ai Froid displayed his determination when staying on strongly to steal the win. He then stepped up in trip to 2 mile 7 when finishing second, just 2 lengths behind the winner in Classic Concorde, travelling strongly and jumping with fluency throughout the class 2 race. He then stepped up in trip again to 3 mile 1 when taking on the challenge of a Class 2 race at Warwick and winning when doing so. He narrowly held off the highly respected Kyntara, who recently finished a close second behind Emitom at Newbury, consolidating this form. He should be suited to both the ground and distance so I would expect this 11 year old to be bang there for this race. Our Sam is another horse who will be able to handle the challenging conditions expected and will stay the distance, especially considering he has a claimer in Leah Noreci onboard. 

🐎The 4:25 is a competitive and interesting race, but I’d expect James Moffat’s Great Pepper to make an impact on the placings here. Great Pepper started his racing career by recording two wins in point-to-point races before having a break of 202 days and then recording two consecutive wins under rules at both Hexham and Kelso. He has beaten the respected likes of To Chase A Dream and now steps up in distance from 2 mile 6 to 3 miles, which he should take in his stride. He has won on both heavy and soft ground so testing conditions expected shouldn’t cause him any inconvenience, and he has his usual partner in Charlotte Jones onboard. I wouldn’t be surprised if his threatening competitor in Jonjo O’Neill’s talented Mt Fugi Park gave him a battle, but these are two horses who I think a lot of and who I believe have very bright futures ahead of them. 
🐎The 4:55 is another very interesting looking race and I think 11/2 shot Captain Biggles will have a massive chance. His racing under rules form reads 5222246 (with his 5th being on his debut, his 4th being before wind surgery and his 6th being his first race back from wind surgery) and since being with Olly Murphy, he has ran in 5 point to points with his point to point form reading 211111. He will be suited by the distance, he is untested on heavy ground so the only concern is that testing ground may be too slow for him, but this case can be made for most horses in this race so I’d be willing to give him a chance.