Daily Racing Thread Saturday 15th. February 2025

My Drogo is an interesting runner in the Hunter Chase at Haydock. He looked like being a top notch chaser a few years ago when with the Skeltons before injury intervened. He has run in a couple of points since joining Ed Walker (won the second one) and it would be lovely to see him back to winning ways.

 

Haydock's card opens with the penultimate Pertemps qualifier (the last one is at Chepstow next Saturday) and Gordon Elliott sends over two contenders who, should they qualify today, could be competitive in the final. Firstly, Jordan Gainford's mount Minella Sixo, an unexposed novice who only made his rules debut at the beginning of October and has 2 wins and 3 places from 5 races. His best piece of form is his last run when 3rd behind two smart mares in The Big Westerner (2 from 2 over hurdles and 3rd fav for the Albert Bartlett) and Mozzie's Sister (subsequently 3rd behind Final Demand and Wingmen in a grade 1 at the DRF) at Limerick. He goes off a mark of 137 today and, whilst he isn't exactly chucked in off that, if he could sneak 3rd or 4th today and get into the final off the same mark then he could be dangerous. The other Elliott runner is My Trump Card who has Carl Millar's 5lb claim and first-time cheek pieces to help him as he reverts from chasing back to the smaller obstacles in the Bective Stud colours. Interestingly, 6 of his 8 runs to date have been at Navan (so we know he goes left-handed), and he was last seen over hurdles finishing 10th in a listed handicap over 3m 1f (looked in need of the run after a 322 day break). Even if we forget his 2 subsequent chase efforts, he looks up against it off a mark of 134 today and is best watched.

Elliott could have picked an easier qualifier to get his horses qualified as this race has depth including: Favourite Jipcot (much improved for wind surgery when winning at Newbury and 3rd at Windsor on his first try at 3 miles); the ultra-consistent Kilbarry Hill (not out of the frame in 9 career starts); lightly-raced Nab Wood (should appreciate the step up in trip) as well as tough, consistent handicappers like Supremely West, Uncle Bert, Gale Mahler, the enigmatic Doddie The Great (when did Brian Hughes last ride for Lieutenant Henderson?) and another unexposed type at the bottom of the weights, Chasingouttheblues. A really strong qualifier and well worth watching with the old notebook out. For win purposes today I will go with KILLBARRY HILL but expect Minella Sixo to qualify.

The Reynoldstown entries are disappointing (I will always remember Alan King's Invictus winning this 13 years ago from Bobs Worth, Alfie Spinner and Silviniaco Conti) and Jingko Blue ought to prevail but the Ascot Chase looks competitive (thanks to the Irish) and whilst Pic D'Orhy has this as his main target, the race will also tell us likely festival targets for L'Homme Presse and Corbetts Cross. Should be a good race.

I quite like Wiseguy in the 3.00 at Ascot and Apple Away in the National Trial (both look on fair marks).

 

I'm with you there Chan - Derryhassen Paddy showed a very willing attitude last time. I'd love to see him emulate Brindisi Breeze at the festival (even though I fear he might find one or two too classy - depends who turns up)

 

Lovely round of jumping from The Changing Man - he deserved that after running some really good races in defeat this winter.

 

Gwennie May Boy was on my short list for the Pertemps Final but he might have blown his mark there. He was 139 ahead of today's race but that will surely nudge him towards the 150 mark?

 

Non-runner Chan

 

Won