Jump racing doesn’t return to Haydock until the two-day Betfair Chase meeting in November, with an excellent carrot dangled in front of connections for the feature. Jockey Club Racecourses are offering a £1million bonus for any horse completing the feat Kauto Star achieved in the 2006/2007 campaign, winning at Haydock before succeeding in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day and then completing the treble in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and BetVictor are 20/1 for any horse to do the same this season.
Silviniaco Conti won both the Betfair Chase and the King George last term and Paul Nicholls’ charge heads the betting for next month’s feature alongside Mark Bradstock‘s Gold Cup winner Coneygree; the 5/2 joint-favourites with BetVictor. The winner is likely to be a warm favourite for the King George and, should they indeed follow-up on Boxing Day, will be nowhere near a 20/1 chance for jump racing’s blue riband at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Prior to that however Haydock host their final flat meeting of the campaign where Richard Fahey’s Curtain Call (1.30) should appreciate the drop back in trip and land the opening 5f Nursery under Jack Garrity. The selection made a winning debut over the minimum trip earlier in the campaign at Nottingham and was well-backed for a pair of 6f Nurseries at Leicester. He should appreciate the return to a sounder surface and can take full advantage to score from a 4lb lower mark.
John Gosden’s Marron is a fascinating runner on debut given the yard’s excellent record at the track but with the benefit of experience Futoon (2.00) gets the nod to shed the maiden tag at the second time of asking. The selection made an impressive debut over course and distance back in May, chasing home Richard Hannon’s odds-on favourite Ring of Truth, and can go one better making her debut for the Kevin Ryan Yard.
David Lanigan’s Mitchum Swagger (3.45) was put up in the column last month when making a winning handicap debut over course and distance and can follow-up in the feature handicap over a mile. The selection has gone up 10lb for that comfortable success but should continue improving and is a confident selection to maintain his unbeaten record under George Baker.
Ryan saddles Mukaynis in a competitive renewal of the 6f Handicap with 17 runners heading to post and Jim Goldie’s Tiger Jim (2.35) fancied to defy a 2lb rise at the weights under regular partner Fergal Lynch. The selection built on an excellent win at Ayr in June, running well in a trio of handicaps at Hamilton, Doncaster and Ayr subsequently. The selection was well backed when finding one too good in the Bronze Cup last time out at Ayr but looks well-treated to make amends.
The new season kicks-off at Wincanton with Forever My Friend (3.00) set to complete the hat-trick for the father/son duo of Sean and Peter Bowen. The selection built on a tumbling mark when scoring at Cartmel in August, before following-gup last time out at Market Rasen, and despite a 10lb rise at the weights remains potentially well-treated.
He’s a Bully (4.10) was a beaten favourite when fourth behind Forever My Friend two starts ago, but put his best foot forward last time out at Exeter and can go one better in the Novices’ Handicap Chase over an extended three miles. The selection is officially 6lb in at the weights for that effort and, with Richard Johnson replacing Tom O’Brien in the plate, is a confident selection to score for in-form trainer Philip Hobbs.
Open Hearted (4.00) made a pleasing debut for new connections last time out at Bangor and can go one better for brothers Dan and Harry Skelton. The selection was rated as high as 145 when trained by Nicky Henderson at Seven Barrows but lost his way thereafter and was sent to the sales by former owner Her Majesty the Queen. The step up in trip should suit and he looks potentially well-handicapped from an unrevised mark of 138.
For all the latest odds and more head to BetVictor.com
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