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It’s generally a decent and competitive handicap at Haydock, and this year is no exception.
Daklondike and The Hollow Ginge are vying for favourite. It seems that Daklondike can be a bit of a monkey, and he took the huff when he refused to race in the Eider
back in February. He came back after a lengthy break at Newbury last month. You could have got
any odds you wanted to, he was completely unfancied, but he ran a good race in 2nd at 40/1. He
came back out 3 weeks later in the Ladbrokes trophy Chase, and there is the possibility he may
have bounced as he ran no kind of race at all. If he has got over that and is back to the form
he showed earlier in the month he has a decent shout. David Pipe seems in rude form at the moment
and they like a punt in that stable so the market may tell a tale.The Hollow Ginge won here over 2m7f virtually to the year (22.12.18), although that was
over hurdles. He showed he was up to the change to fences when he won 1st time out at Wincanton
over 2m7f in September. Showed improvement next time out, although beaten a head over 3m1f
at Aintree. Although beaten again last time out here over 2m5f, he appears to be going the
right way and was raised 10lbs, although dropped a1lb for here. He’s the one that appears to
have a lot of blue around him on Oddschecker, and like Pipe, NTD’s stable also like a punt
on a fancied one.Vintage Clouds hasn’t hit form this year yet, but he goes well here having had a couple of
wins, 1 over C/D. He was well fancied for the Grand national last year, although he went at the
1st. I reckon that’s the aim again this year, where he ran off of 144 and he’s only 1lb above that
at the moment. He might be getting brought along gently and keeping around that mark, so he’s not
for me.Crosspark is my idea of the Scottish National winner. He was pipped by a well
handicapped Takingrisks, who was promptly raised 8lbs. I should be a bit miffed at him as he
cost me a few quid when he did Mysteree on the run-in in the Eider earlier this year before his
Scottish national attempt. He had a good break before running at Cheltenham back in October, but
he clearly needed the race and i think he’ll be a lot straighter for this. He’s running off his
highest mark, 146, but I think he’s up to it and there is more to come from him. Despite carrying
top weight, he’s my idea of the winner.It’s a very competitive affair, and it’s hard to rule out any of the others, Orchard Cross
disappointed last time when well bet at Ascot, but if he bounced back he would be a threat.I took the 9s this morning for Crosspark, he’s best priced 8/1 at the
moment but I think that’s still a bit of value.The bottom weight Lord Du Mesnil would be my selection in this. Dour stayer and likes heavy….heavy Haydock over 3m1 might well just be his ideal. Trainers in form + the jockey rides chasers well.
Vintage Clouds would be my idea of a main danger!
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Good luck with Lord Du Mesnil Jack, he’s carrying no weight with the 3lbs that O’Brien
takes off him, he was tough last time out and the money seems to have come for him.
As I said, you can’t rule anything out, it’s a very competitive race.I like Vintage Clouds at 7/1 here. He is a typical Haydock lover, stays, acts on heavy and is on a nice mark.
Vintage Clouds 7/1Top Wood never gives up and loves the game. Lord Du Mesnil was great to watch last time, honest and enthusiastic, coning back to win after looking beaten. Probably improving and I’ve backed both these.
Good luck
JoeTop Wood for me.
Great run at Cheltenham, before winning at Aintree. His return was decent, and he seems as good as ever.
Took 8’s, but will top up if he goes bigger.
Crosspark is the one for me here. I’d have him as a strong win bet, but I’ll cover him ew anyway.
What a monkey that horse is Greenasgrass.
Well done Steeplechasing and Jack, that was easy.
Well done all + cheers. Could be a progressive horse!
Twitter: Jackh1092
Hindsight is 20/20 so make the most of it!Very nice pick Jack, I hope you stole a few points on Friday over the SP. Well done to Joe
and Mike who lumped on him too
I only watched the racing a couple of hours back as I was travelling down to Stratford for
Christmas for most of the day. I’m trying to work out what to make of Crosspark’s performance.
It’s hard to make the excuse again, as I did for this one, that he needed the race, even although
it did look that way. He jumped and travelled well, and was still in with a shout until 3 out but
he then folded tamely. I’m pretty sure that the target is the Scottish national, and a few pounds
less than last year wouldn’t do his chances any harm, so perhaps that is a factor. Nonetheless I
was disappointed. I still think he’s a good horse, but definitely no more than a watching brief at
present.
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