Haydock hosts a stellar card on Saturday and the six year old that will hopefully get us up and running in the Novices Chase is Caribean Boy.
The Nicky Henderson trained gelding was bought in May 2018 by leading owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede for €180,000 and was moved over to England from France.
On his first outing since April 2018 he finished a decent third at Doncaster in a decent Beginners Chase where he will come on a bunch for that run.
The first big race of the day from Haydock is the Rendlesham Hurdle and in this Grade Two contest over three miles we like the veteran Clyne.
The 10 year old gelding for Evan Williams was a smart performer earlier in his career winning some smart races but now nearing the end of his career he has been vulnerable in races with conditions against him.
However, with the ground at the weekend set be heavy and the trip suiting perfectly it gives him a huge opportunity to get back on track.
The Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle over two miles is a smart Class two affair and Paul Nicholls has a clever runner set to line up in Sir Physco.
Bryony Frost takes the ride which is always positive and this youngster has raced four times over hurdles this season winning two of his events in good style.
Last time out he gave his best performance at Exeter when seeing off the Harry Fry trained Bullionaire who had some serious form when finishing behind Sporting John and Harry Senior prior to that.
The big race of the day on Merseyside is the Grade Three Grand National Trial Handicap Chase and Elegant Escape is a proven stayer that is needed for these types of events.
The eight year old gelding has put some superb performances in over the years winning the Welsh Grand National last season and although only sixth in the same race this term his weight was huge.
He was a decent third in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury again staying on from a long way back and having been a bigger price earlier in the week he has been gambled on.
He is the definition of stays longer than the mother-in-law and over three miles four furlongs you know he will be there at the end if his jumping is up to scratch.
Nicky Henderson will be looking to extend a potentially smart day of winners across Ascot and Haydock on Saturday and Welsh Saint is the horse that could do that.
The six year old gelding was a decent bumper horse with a place and win in his three runs and since going over hurdles he has looked an even more impressive horse.
He fell on his debut in May but after having a break and coming back in November he looked a different horse finishing a narrow second debut and then using that experience to get off the mark in a maiden hurdle at Warwick.
He stepped up to a dramatic Listed contest which saw a stewards enquiry but he finished a fair third and if improving from that on a flatter track will be in the mix.
The final Grade Two and selection on the day for us at Haydock is the Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices Hurdle over three miles and Ramses De Teillee for David Pipe will take some beating.
This proven stayer will be heading to the Cheltenham festival in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle and this looks a perfect stepping stone for the eight year old.
The gelding has been better known for his chase exploits during his career having finished second in a Welsh Grand National and also won some nice events.
However, having been sent over hurdles this season again he has took to the task very well winning at Cheltenham in a three mile novices event and then backing that up last time out at Doncaster in the Grade Two Don Novices Hurdle.
Of the back of that he is a big player for David Noonan who only holds one ride at Haydock on the day.
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