Haydock Saturday Preview - 19/11/22

The first event of the afternoon at Haydock on Saturday is the Listed Newton Novices' Hurdle over 1m 7 1/2f and we think Tahmuras could be a bit of a freak for Paul Nicholls.

A winner of a four runner PTP over three miles in May 2021, he was then bought by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate and given to Nicholls.

Sent to Wincanton for his rules debut in March this year in a bumper he managed to see off the talented Blow Your Wad for Tom Lacey.

Saved for his hurdling career he was sent over timber on debut this term at Chepstow over two miles and it was an extremely eye-catching debut, bolting up by eight lengths.

The manner he pulled away after the last was breathtaking and he now deserves his chance in Listed company.

Our next selection comes in the Handicap Hurdle over 2m3f and the Dan Skelton trained L'Eau Du Sud looks a big player.

This French exploit is making his first start for the yard having been bought by the Successful ownership team of Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and John Hales and could be anything.

A horse who seems to love heavy ground, he was a winner in December 20221 at Pau over 2m1 1/2f on heavy ground and then in February in similar conditions at Auteuil was a good second.

Back to winning ways when last seen in France up into Listed company he was a nice winner over 2m2f and looks a potentially nice prospect off a handicap mark of 132.

An Interesting race from Haydock is the Graduation Chase over 2m5 1/2f and Hitman for Paul Nicholls is the stand out candidate off the back of his seasonal debut.

A working progress horse for the champion trainer who thinks a lot of this gelding and he has shown big potential to be a classy horse over fences.

Sent chasing for the yard in 2020 when having a good novice career, finishing second to Allmankind in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase and having won twice that season he rounded it off at Aintree when narrowly denied in the Manifesto Novices' Chase.

Last season he made his seasonal debut in the Haldon Gold Cup when second to Eldorado Allen and next time out he had to settle for second again in the Grade One Tingle Creek behind stablemate Greaneteen.

Third of four in the Game Spirit Chase when not beaten far, he then went to Aintree and again played Bridesmaid in the Marsh Chase behind Fakir D'oudairies when looking the winner.

The theme continued on seasonal debut this term when second in the Grade Two Old Roan Handicap Chase at Aintree going down by a head but now pitched into a much easier event he should get back to winning ways.

Bundles of ability and now just needs to find that winning attitude.

One of our best value bets of the day comes from Haydock in the Stayers' Premier Handicap Hurdle over 3m 1/2f and Might I for Harry Fry looks a seriously solid contender.

A horse that bounced onto the racing scene when landing a bumper in December 2020 at Warwick in good style and then off the back of that went to Newbury and finished fifth in a Listed bumper that had one of the best form lines throughout the season, finishing behind the likes of Good Risk At All, I Like To Move It and Gelino Bello.

Sent hurdling in December 2021 at Sandown he was backed into favouritism but bumped into the superstar Constitution Hill and finished second.

He again bumped into another star at Haydock next time out when a close third behind Grade One winner Jonbon in the Grade Two Supreme Trial.

Might I rounded off his season in the Grade One Mersey Novices' Hurdle when second behind Three Stripe Life, who is another superb animal.

Sent into a handicap for his seasonal debut this term he could be well treated off a mark of 142 and being stepped up to three miles makes big appeal being a full brother to National Hunt Chase winner at the festival last year in Stattler.

Huge player.

The feature race of the weekend in the UK is the Grade One Betfair Chase and last years winner A Plus Tard will be very tough to beat if the ground isn't ridiculously bad.

The eight year old has been a superb horse during his career, really bouncing onto the scene in 2019 when taking the old Novices' Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival.

Two seasons he again put up another superb performance at Leopardstown over Christmas, when becoming one of the very few horses to beat Chacun Pour Soi in a Grade One.

He went to Cheltenham off the back of that run in the Ryanair and when punted to run a big race, could only finish third behind Min.

Last term, he made his seasonal debut in the two mile Grade Two Fortria Chase at Navan, where he was narrowly beaten by Castlegrace Paddy.

It was obvious that two miles was not his trip and De Bromhead last time out sent him over three miles for the first time in his career and didn't half suit him.

In the Grade One Savills Chase he came from a long way back off the pace to snatch victory at Leopardstown.

He headed into the Gold Cup with a huge chance and in the end ran a valiant race in second just being seen off by stablemate Minella Indo who outstayed him on the day.

Returning last season in this event he took the event by 22 lengths from Royal Pagaille and then went to Leopardstown at Christmas looking to land back to back Grade One events in the Savills Chase.

Looking the winner close home he was chinned by Galvin, but having been waited on since then he went to the Cheltenham festival and got his redemption in the Gold Cup when bolting up by 15 lengths.

Back to the scene of his seasonal debut win last year with the field looking arguably not as deep as the 2021 renewal, he looks very tough to beat.