Haydock Saturday Preview - 16/02/2019

The opening race from Haydock is the William Hill Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle, and Quel Destin - who has won his last four; including a Grade One latest, will no doubt have leading claims once again here today.

Wins at Cheltenham, Kempton, Doncaster and Chepstow this season has helped him become established as one of the leading juveniles around ahead of the Triumph hurdle - although Sir Erec looks set to be in a class of his own.

Can represent the best of the British however, and no doubt he will be hard to beat here.

Already got the better of Adjali, and now time to dismiss another Souede/Munir runner in Torpillo.

Jester Jet's form reads 22222 this season, and surely deserved to add a '1' to that in the olbg.com Mares' Hurdle (Listed) (Registered As The Warwick Mares' Hurdle).

Finished a valiant runner-up in a Grade Two 2m7f Mares Contest at Ascot latest, and asserted herself as one of the most versatile individuals around trip-wise.

Proven it over fences and hurdles - sticks with hurdles today, and looks a major danger to most of these.

Form looks solid, and holds leading claims.

Shades Of Midnight can take one of the most competitive races of the day - also one of the features: the Grade Two William Hill Rendlesham Hurdle.

Strong form in late 2018 including a Grade Three second in November and won smartly last time out in a Class 3 small field event at Kelso but will really need to up his game here.

His second was behind Paisley Park who as we know is a superb horse and the current favourite for the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival this year.

Big form chance, and can capitalise on a few of these returning from a break.

The Paddy Pie sits at the bottom of the pile in the William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap), but can reign supreme at the top for Sue Smith.

Proved some real consistency this season, by not finishing out of the places in his last seven attempts. Was last seen winning well at Sedgefield in this grade just a couple of weeks ago when tucked in behind the leaders.

Remains lightly raced and looks very well treated.

Player.

Silva Eclipse has been a runner-up here the last twice, and looks a likely figure once more in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier - For next month's final at Cheltenham).

Looks well in at the handicap after missing out by a nose just four weeks ago, as he continues to search for his first win since September 2017.

Is progressing rapidly for a trainer who has enjoyed a lot of success here in recent years, and can put in another good effort today.

A large field go for the Grade Three William Hill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase over all of three-and-a-half miles, and we've whittled it down to Impulsive Star and Carole’s Destrier.

Impulsive Star won the 3m5f Classic Chase at Warwick last month - the same race One For Arthur won before his National success in 2017, and this 9yo remain unexposed in marathon handicaps with 3lb claimer Sam Waley Cohen aboard.

Carole's Destrier meanwhile was back to winning ways two starts ago at Newbury, before just tailing away up the run-in behind Impulsive Star in the East Midlands.

Excellent from stacked up, and BOTH should play a part in the finish.

Stoney Mountain looks among the horses that will rear up the field under Andrew Tinkler; riding again for the first time since Ascot in November, in the penultimate contest - the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle.

Another close place at Warwick over similar distance so this trip should suit under another potential favourite given the current form and ability over the longer 3m distance.

With places rather than wins over longer distances it could prove costly but given the form and this field, Stoney Mountain is definitely a serious contender for this Novices hurdle.

Sam Waley-Cohen could be back in the winners enclosure aboard Road To Rome in the finale - the Walrus Open Hunters' Chase.

Six in a row since November when joining JJ O'Shea's yard, this hunter won easily last time at Ludlow the last twice, and will now showcase his ability in front of the Haydock crowd.

Surely a contender for the Cheltenham equivalent, and can do his claims no harm with yet another victory here.

Sure to go off a short price.