Haydock Saturday Preview - 18/01/2020

The first race of the day is the Class 4 Handicap Hurdle and we like the look of Philip Hobbs' Le Ligerien who heads off the back of a superb performance on Wednesday.

He has been in superb form of late placing in all of his last four contests with soft/heavy conditions playing right into his hands and he gets that again here.

He absolutely bolted up at Newbury on Wednesday never coming off the bridle and not seeing a rival for nearly the whole race and although he has gone up seven pounds he looked to have that in hand the other day.

One to beat.

The highly talented Windsor Avenue goes for us in the next contest which sees only four runners go to post after a host of runners were left out at the final declaration stage.

The Brian Ellison trained eight year old has been pretty smart this season winning his first two runs of the season with ease but when given a proper test on his last start he struggled.

He went up against Sam Spinner who unfortunately is now out for the season but at Doncaster Jedd O'Keefe's horse was to good for him but now back in this field Windsor Avenue should dominate again.

Another contest that has fell apart is the Grade Two Supreme Trial Novices Hurdle and in this four runner event we fancy the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Stolen Silver.

This five year old was a wide margin winner on his second start of the season putting things right after unseating his rider on his debut over hurdles at Cheltenham.

He headed back to jumps racing HQ last time out when taking the highly rated Chantry House all the way to the line in a decent Novices Hurdle and that looks some strong form.

One of the feature contests on the card at Haydock is the big fielded Peter Marsh Handicap Chase that has been won by some smart horses in previous renewals.

This year we fancy the Anthony Honeyball trained Midnight Tune who looks to be a very useful mare who has won her last two novice chases in great style.

She steps into a handicap for the first time and her mark looks workable enough to see her go well especially for how unexposed she is.

Its one Grade Two after another at Haydock and the big hurdles contest of the day is the The New One Hurdle which is seen as the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle trial.

Darasso for trainer Joseph O'Brien enters the frame off the back of his last two runs when winning a nice Grade Three over at Gowran Park in February and following that up over fences in a Grade two at Navan.

This seven year old is having his first run over the season switching back over to hurdles which could be the making of him especially in heavy ground which truly brings the best out of him.

He is proven at going well fresh and has only been waited on coming back to racing this late as he had an extended summer off.

The penultimate race of the afternoon on Merseyside is the Class 3 Handicap Chase over two miles and the Alastair Ralph trained Billingsley looks to have a big chance.

He had been a hard horse to win with before getting off the mark for the season last time out at Hereford in some of the worst conditions seen.

The muddy/heavy ground at Haydock on Saturday will play to his strengths massively and if this eight year old can jump like he did last time out he has a big chance.

The final race of the day sees a decent amount of runners head to post which makes a change compared to the rest of the card and Silva Eclipse for Sue Smith takes the eye.

The seven year old has had a superb career considering he was only bought for £3,000 winning and placing in some modest events.

His last three outings have all come on heavy ground and it has bought the best out of him winning nicely at Uttoxeter before a solid fourth at Sandown and placing nicely over course and distance last time out which makes him a player.